Caney Creek Student Media Handbook & Guide by cchsprowler

Student Media Staff

To have an independent, truly independent, free press – fiercely independent press when necessary – is the red beating heart of a democracy. — Dan Rather

Welcome! Congratulations on being selected to become a part of Panther Student Media! You are joining a program known for its professionalism, ethical behavior, quality product, attention to detail and care for the community. The staff has worked hard producing the yearbook, newspaper and website to inform the community and preserve the history of the school since the building opened in 1997. More than anything, you are joining a family. The people you will work with will become your friends and family for however long you will be with us in this program. Everyone is welcome with open arms and your perspectives valued. You will hold each other accountable, be there for each other in stressful times and, importantly, have fun! No journalism program can function without parties, celebrations and other team bonding that helps break the tedious work we do day in and day out. We hold regular gatherings, as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve named them, to celebrate birthdays, achievements and other milestones both staffwide and individually. It should be noted that we do a lot of work. It is hard work. It requires dedication, commitment and attention to detail that will benefit us all in the long run. I have no doubt you are capable of such work, but be aware that your commitment is required, not suggested. If you stick with it, this program will be one of the most rewarding and motivating groups you will ever be a part of. You will build a portfolio, enter competitions, meet tons of new people, tell amazing stories and create relationships that will last potentially forever. The entire CCHS Media staff looks forward to incorporating you into our family in the new year and producing outstanding, inspiring and authentic journalism to serve this community for years to come. With excitement, Stephen Green Panther Student Media adviser

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 5 6 7 8 10 14 15 24 31 37 38 39 40 42 43 44 45 46 48

Staff Job Descriptions Adviser Job Description Staff Heriarchy Staff Expectations Quick AP Style Guide Basic Journalism Terms Staff Database Links Helpful Websites for Journalists Staff Policy Code of Ethics Staff Communication Social Media for Journalists Your Password Book Staff Grading Procedure Newspaper Production Schedule Yearbook Production Schedule Reporting & Interviewing Tips Video How-To Staff Application Clubs & Orgs List

49 Sports List 50 Story Idea Pitches 51 Potential Story Ideas 52 Photo Editing Protocol 56 InDesign Basic Terms & How-To 59 Basic Yearbook Spread Design 60 Basic Newspaper Design 61 Reputable News Sources 62 Camera Settings Quick Reference 64 Composition Reference & Tips 66 Sports Photography Guide 68 Yearbook Story, Headlines & Captions 70 General Writing Tips 71 Basic News Writing Structure 72 Types of News Stories 73 Common Copy Editing Symbols 74 Editorial Cartooning 75 Structuring Arguments 76 Writing Opinion 77 Writing Features

78 81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 98 100 102 112

Feature Lede Types Alternative Story Forms/Alt Copy Conducting Polls & Surveys Headline Styles Posting Photo Galleries Lettering Policy Student Media Budget Staff Sales Expectations Possible Sales Script Patron Sales Pitch Patron Contract Yearbook Contract Yearbook Senior Tribute Info Demographics & Sponsorships Newspaper Business Ad Rates Yearbook Business Ad Information Newspaper Org Ad Information Media Law Basics My Notes

It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Albus Dumbledore

Staff Directory Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Website Editor-in-Chief Photography Editor Photography Editor Marketing Director Design Editor News Editor News Editor Opinions Editor Features Editor Student Life Editor Clubs & Organizations Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Portraits Editor Groups Editor Ads Editor Index Editor

Ashton Rushing Omar Perez Julian Mendez Kiley Neeley Emily Alfaro Lexi Amador Gallant Sloan Bethany Barnes Roberto Garcia Marissa Salinas Johnathan Whitmire Julea Henthorn Alyssa Herdon Katie Cooper Elyn Zamudio Jaden MacKinnon Annali Ward Adrian Arriaga Adolfo Paredon Nathan Ramshur

Senior Staff

Jacquelyn Bahena, Joshua Baldwin, Vanesa Garcia, Brian Zarza

Junior Staff

Leonardo Ambrosio, Aaron Bloomfield, Luis Campos, Kimberly Castillo, Isaiah Collins, Kately Diaz, Esmeralda Garcia, Amy Hernandez-Perez, Marissa Herrin, McKenna Lee, Nadia Molina, Angel Ramirez, Angel Ramos, Litzy Reynoso, Lauryn Reza, Steven Rubio, Cristian Sanabria Torres, Brianna Warriner

Adviser

Stephen Green

Staff Job Descriptions Newspaper Editor-in-Chief

Person in charge of final editorial decisions regarding print newspaper product, collaborating with print and design editors, making content assignments, and final copy editor for all print copy. Meets with reporters on all Big Story package Maestro sessions and approves final print design.

Yearbook Editor-in-Chief

Person in charge of final editorial decisions regarding print yearbook product, collaborating with print and design editors, making content assignments, and final copy editor for all print copy. Makes final decisions on theme and other big picture items like cover design and deadlines.

Website Editor-in-Chief

Person in charge of final editorial decisions regarding online news product, collaborating with photography and deisgn editors, making content assignments, and final copy editor for all web copy. Head breaking-news reporter and in charge of assignments during times of web-only new and social media content.

Photography Editor

Marketing Director

Design Editor

News Editor

Person in charge of control and direction of advertising, product sales and staff recruitment for Panther Student Media products and staff. This includes cultivating businesses and interested in supporting student publications, advertising design, selling senior tributes, selling yearbooks, hosting fundraisers and events for publicity, and other marketing-related tasks as needed. Person in charge of leading and executing the visual graphic design of the CCSM publications. This person also acts as the chief tutor for Adobe InDesign and organization of pagination work flow, as well as creating and brainstorming graphic elements for enhancing visual storytelling. Person in charge of all campus, district, city, regional, state, national and international news coverage. This person also leads the Big Story team and is a part of the breaking news team.

Opinions Editor

Person in charge of soliciting, collecting and brainstorming all opinion content for the publication including letters to the editors, guest columns, columnists, reviews, and editorials.

Features Editor

Person in charge of finalizing all feature and profile stories of individuals or groups, as well as helping direct the brainstorming and development of feature ideas for breaking news, Big Stories and yearbook.

Student Life Editor

Clubs & Organizations Editor Sports Editor

Person in charge of directing coverage of campuswide events, trends, pop culture, non-school student activity, academics, hobbies, and other parts of life that affect students or students participate in like food, technology, fashion, etc. Person in charge of organizing beat coverage of non-sport clubs or organizations on campus, events they host and creating a weekly wrap-up of club goings on. Person in charge of organizing beat coverage of campus and non-campus sports including daily sports score updates, team scoreboards and records, features, columns, and changes to sport rules from UIL and other governing bodies.

Portraits Editor

Person in charge of developing design and content ideas for the yearbook portrait section, as well as checking all names, eliminating duplicates, and organizing senior quote collection, if needed.

Groups Editor

Person in charge of collecting and organizing all rosters/memberships for clubs, organizations and sports for entry into the yearbook groups section. Also in charge of developing design and content ideas for the yearbook groups section, as well as checking all names, and the groups section design team.

Ads Editor

Person in charge of collaborating with publication editors to collect and brainstorm photography assignments to enhance the visual storytelling aspect. This person also acts as the chief tutor for Adobe Photoshop questions and organization of equipment and photo storage.

Person in charge of leading ad design and blocking out ad locations in publications, checking to ensure all advertisers are placed in publication and sending proofs to people who purchased ad space.

Index Editor

Person in charge of developing design and content ideas for the yearbook index section, as well as ensuring all pages have been properly indexed including students, faculty, staff, organizations, and other people or organizations mentioned throughout the yearbook publication.

Senior Staff

Returning members of staff who get first choice on assignments. They are required to help mentor incoming members on staff organization and practices.

Adviser Job Description Requirements from Conroe ISD: • Instruct students in journalism courses such as (but not limited to): Journalism, Independent Study in Journalism, Advanced Broadcast Journalism I, II, III, Photojournalism, Advanced Journalism, Yearbook I, II, III, and Advanced Journalism Newspaper I, II, III in grades 9-12. • Actively participate in required activities for the year, including those that take place during the summer break. • Provide opportunities for students to develop practical skills in media production and be able to identify, research, and produce journalism for a wide range of media. • Adhere to scholastic journalism principles as established by organizations such as the University Interscholastic League, the Texas Association of Journalism Educators, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. • Attend competitions in which students compete (UIL, CSPA, TAJE, etc.). • Attend training/workshops with students to enhance publication content and design. • Provide regular opportunities for coaching outside the school day for UIL competitions. • Interact with the junior high school journalism advisers as part of a vertical team. • Produce annual coverage of school activities in a yearbook. • Coordinate senior, underclass, and staff photos with the school’s professional photographers. • Coordinate advertising and sales programs to fund the publications. • Uphold primary responsibility for the final yearbook product. • Serve as a communication link between the publisher and administration. • Work with principal in selecting and securing an appropriate yearbook contract. • Recruit and/or use published elective policies to create a functioning yearbook staff capable of producing a high-quality product. • Provide opportunities for students to make meaningful contributions to the yearbook (providing opportunities for growth and learning). • Assign photographers/reporters for school functions, and supervise students at events where they are taking pictures. • Meet all publisher-imposed deadlines in order to keep final cost down, collect payments for yearbook, and oversee budget. • Respond to inquiries from parents regarding payment. • Work with the principal to choose the most appropriate distribution method. • Make arrangements for delivery of yearbooks to students who have moved.

Staff Adviser Requirements: • Appoint and train editors, who will make assignments, coverage decisions and manage the staff operations. • Advise students on best journalism practices. • Make suggestions for story ideas and edits to existing stories with the understanding the student journalists have final say over content decisions within the limits of Constitutional law regarding scholastic media. • Provide training on marketing, sales and staff recruitment. • Grow and select staff for future years. • Host camps and/or trainings outside of school, or provide opportunities for such trainings, for further staff development. • Provide equipment necessary for expectations. • Re-train staff every year. • Assign mentor/mentee pairings for new staff members. • Provide opportunities for staff bonding activities. • Bring in outside experts in the journalism field and/or offer field trips to expand the horizons of the journalists in the program. • Provide access and advice for legal resources related to scholastic journalism. • Provide opportunity for student journalists to pursue topics of their choosing within legal limits. • Create and publish the staff manual both online and in print. • Provide leadership training for editors. • Reward staff members through creation of a lettering policy, and other intraschool awards.

Do or do not; there is no try. — Yoda

Staff Heirarchy Marketing Director

Editors-in-Chief

Section Editors

Photography Editor

Reporters/ Designer

Photographers

Design Editor

Graphic Designers

Social Media Director

Marketers/ Salespersons Texas Legislature

Voters

Governor

U.S. Dept. of Education

Texas Board of Education School Board Superintendent Principal Adviser

Sometimes it is the people who no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alan Turing

Expectations A grade of 90+ should be expected in this class. Any grade lower is a sign you are not doing your work in a timely manner. You may be removed from staff at semester if your presence is not beneficial for staff. You are expected to treat this as a job. If you agree to something, do it. Equipment should be properly checked out and returned BEFORE school on the day following an assignment. Repeated infractions of this could lose privileges of taking cameras home. Respect the hierarchy of the organization. We all have a job and responsibilities. Do not fight with other staff members. We are a family. Have fun and participate. This is supposed to be as fun as it is rewarding! If you are thinking about leaving the program for any reason at all, please talk to the adviser first. Any misbehavior at school or school events may result in losing some staff privileges. Remember: Respect is earned, not automatic. Do not take criticism personally. This is a learning experience. We all make mistakes. Fix them! You get as much out of this as you put into it. This is the place to grow and earn skills you can use in the real world! We’re a real, multi-thousand dollar business. Take advantage of this opportunity! Mr. Green’s job is to push you to your full potential, not be your best friend. He might seem angry with you, criticize your work, or ask for better quality work, but he always, always be there to support you. There will be times you are angry with him, don’t understand a decision, or want to quit. Talk with him and be open about your feelings! You own the copyright on the yearbook, newspapers, photography, and stories. However, you are responsible for producing them. This is your product and not mine. I will not create it for you.

Quick AP Style Guide MONTHS/DATES/TIMES

Abbreviate months with six or more letters if used with a specific date. Spell out those with five or less letters always. Spell out months when there is no specific date. For days of the month, use only numerals. Do not use nd, rd, or th. Do not abbreviate days of the week...ever. Use only day of the week if within seven days from publication. Use numerals, a space, lowercase letters, and periods for a.m. and p.m. Do not use extra zeros on times. Use noon and midnight rather than 12 a.m. or 12 p.m. Use year only if not in current year.

NAMES/TITLES/CLASSES

For all people (adults and students), use full names on first reference. On second reference, use only the last name.

Aug. 13, June 6, May 31 In September, the team ... The class begins in February 2015. Aug. 2, Sept. 3, April 4 Wednesday, Monday, Saturday The next game is Wednesday. The next game is Saturday, Feb. 14. 7 p.m., 10 a.m., 1:45 p.m. The club will meet at noon. It is midnight. Today is Jan. 18. My actual birthday was Dec. 4, 1991. Junior Jane Smith ...

Later, Smith realized ...

If two people with the same last name are quoted in a story, use first and last names.

... Jane Smith explained. Jenny Smith also believes...

Formal titles are only capitalized when they appear immediately before a name. Just make sure it’s a formal title and not merely a job description (teacher, coach, etc.).

Jenny Smith, auto club president, ... Under Mayor Bob Jackson, the town seemed to thrive, but basketball coach Joe Jones told another story. Barack Obama is president.

Sophomore, junior, senior and freshman are lowercase unless at the start of a sentence. Titles of departments and names of classes are not capitalized unless they are also a language or nationality.

NUMBERS/MONEY

In most usage, spell out numbers under 10. Exceptions beyond dates and times shown above: • Addresses: 6 Maple St. (abbreviate street type, too) • Ages, even for inanimate objects: Beth, a 15-year-old; the 2-year-old building • Dollars and cents: $5; 5 cents. • Measurements (such as dimensions and speed): 6 feet tall, 9-by-12 rug; 7 miles per hour • Temperature: 8 degrees • Millions, billions: 3 million people • Percentages: 4% (use percent sign) Spell out any number that appears at the beginning of a sentence. The one exception to this rule is a year. Do not spell out monetary amounts or use extra zeros: $6 or $2.30, but NOT $6.00 or six dollars.

For sophomore Sarah Smith, it was... math, science, English, Spanish

I have four cats and 10 dogs. It is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. My 5-year-old is a handful. He gave me $6 for the taco. The team captain is 6 feet tall. The 7-foot-tall tree. It dropped 9 degrees overnight. There are $3 million in the bag. The candidate gained 6% in recent polls.

Twenty-three men barged into the room. I only have $3 in my pocket.

SPORTS

Do not capitalize names of sports, their competitive level (varsity, junior varsity, etc.) or specific positions.

varsity basketball; quarterback

When referring to a gender-specific sport, do not use an apostrophe with boys/girls.

girls field hockey; boys soccer; girls restroom

Note that “team” and the name of the school are singular nouns; but the school’s mascot is generally plural.

Garfield scores three points; the Bulldogs score three points

Use numerals for records and scores but not necessarily points.

The team, now 7-3, won 51-48 after scoring three points in the final six seconds.

Note unusual style for rankings.

The team was No. 1. (NOT number one); No. 1 Garfield beat No. 6 Roosevelt; first-place team.

PUNCTUATION/ABBREVIATIONS/QUOTES

Apostrophes usually show possession, so usually you shouldn’t use them to make acronyms and numbers plural. An exception is with individual letters such as in grading.

1970s; ABCs; she received six 4s; she received six A’s

Not all cities need a state name with them, but those that do should NOT be abbreviated except in a dateline (see Stylebook for correct abbreviations).

Seattle; Bellevue, Washington; Portland, Oregon (Dateline) Hershey, Penn. (Not PA)

Place quotation marks around almost all composition titles, but not reference, newspaper or magazine names.

“American Idol”, “Born This Way”, Time magazine

Capitalize the first letter of a full-sentence quote.

“All of us were excited,” Jones said.

When a full-sentence quotation is introduced or followed by attribution, place a comma between them, unless the quote is a question. (ALWAYS use “said”; never asked, stated, etc.)

“All of us were excited,” Jones said. “Were we all excited?” Jones said.

When using a sentence fragment as a quotation, do not set it off with a comma unless the sentence requires one for proper grammar. Do not capitalize the first letter of a sentence fragment quote.

Jones told the crowd to “get pumped up” about the pep rally.

POSSESSIVES

Singular noun = add ‘s Plural noun = add ‘ Proper nouns = add ‘

OTHER

Only capitalize proper nouns/derivatives, beginnings of sentences, and formal titles before a name. Separate compound modifiers with hyphens when before a word. They are multiple words that jointly describe something. Always note passive voice. Titles are in quotation marks. Names are not. Newspapers and magazines have names, while movies, books and TV shows have titles. Exception: The Bible Note proper quote punctuation (including spaces).

The fish’s bowl. The computer’s monitor The dogs’ bed. The teachers’ conference periods. Achilles’ heel. The Bluejays’ starting lineup. The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup. So says President John J. Smith. But Jimmy Schmidts, former president, disagrees. The yellow-green car drove up the driveway. The car, which was yellow green, drove up the driveway. The dog was bitten by the man. (The man bit the dog.) The New York Times, “Modern Family”, Out magazine, “The Simpsons” “I really like you guys,” Jones said. “I like you a lot.”

There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for. — Samwise Gamgee

Common Journo Terms DESIGN

alignment analogous colors art bleed bold broadsheet byline caption caricature CMYK column inch columns complementary colors contrast cutline dateline desktop publishing display copy dominant photo double-truck drop cap dummy page duotone editorial page entry point external margin eyeline flag flat fold folio/folio tab font family font race font style graphic grid gutter halftone headline Hexadecimal color icon/bug infographic internal margin issue number italics jump to/from jumphead jumpline justified kerning leading lead-in masthead modular design/ format monochromatic mugs nameplate novelty

How to different objects line up with one another. In text, describes the positioning of text. Colors next to each other on the color wheel. Term for any non-video visual element. The area which will be cut off during the printing process. A thicker version of a font. The traditional size of a newspaper product -- 29.5” by 23.5” for full spread. Area that says who wrote the story including their title or email. Description of a photo including the 5Ws and H. First line written in present tense; others in past. Exaggerated drawing of a person, usually for commentary purposes. Cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black). A subtractive color process for all printed products. One inch of a newspaper column. Usually about 30 words. Vertical sets of text; usually 4-6 on a page. This breaks up monotony and prevents tired eyes. Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Two opposite design elements next to one another. (e.g. big/small, dark/light, thin/bold, etc) Newspaper version of a caption. Area where the story was written. Not included if in the town where newspaper is published. Process of designing print products on a computer. Fonts and text used to attract the eye or cause certain emotions like in graphics or advertisements. The biggest photo on the page; usually the one that captures the story best. A set of two facing pages in a newspaper designed as one complete unit. The first letter of a story that is enlarged and extends into lines below it. Rough draft of a design; usually without pictures or real copy. A photo edited to be comprised of the various tones of two colors, one usually black. A page dedicated to the opinionated content. Design element placed to signal readers where to start. The white space left alone that borders the page similar to a matte on a photograph. A line that extends horizontally across a spread, visually connecting the two. The logo for the publication, usually on the front and top of a newspaper. A set of 8 pages in a book-style publication. The area where a newspaper will be folded in half. A page number and any accompanying text/images. The specific name of a font like Times New Roman, Minion Pro, Proxima Nova, etc. A general style of font like serif, sans serif, script, novelty, etc. The treatment of a specific font family like bold, italics, thin, light, extrabold, black, etc. A non-photo visual element. A set of horizontal and vertical lines that help create unified spacing within the design. The area in between two facing pages where the publication folds. Printing process that translates digital images to a series of very small dots on the print version. Main title of the story. A more simplified naming system for RGB photos. A company or group’s logo accompanying a story. A visual illustration of data to help readers better understand complex information. The space between objects on a page. The number of an individual publication within a volume. Text that is angled, usually to the right. The space signaling where a story stops on one page and continues on another. A word or short phrase that labels the jumps. The indication in the jump to/from as to what page it came from or is going to. Text that spaces out to fill the column completely from left to right. The space between characters. The vertical space between lines of text. A short word or phrase to serve as an entry point at the beginning of a photo caption/cutline. The area of a newspaper containing information about editors, owners, title, contact info., etc. A design style that divides a page into parts that may or may not be related and are standalone from the main coverage. The tints and shades of one color. A head-and-shoulders picture of a person. In newspapers, sized where head is roughly dime sized. The top of a newspaper containing the flag, volume/issue numbers, teasers, and other information. A race of fonts that are designed for visual appeal and not solely for readability.

The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe it is possible. — Alice in Through the Looking Glass

package pagination Pantone pica points primary colors pull quote ragged-right/left RBG reverse print sans serif script secondary colors serif sidebar spreads style sheet/guide subheadline tabloid teaser template tombstoning tracking trapped text/space triadic colors typography underline volume number white space whole-book link wild art

A set of copy, headlines, images, graphics, etc. that tells a story as one unit. The process of designing publication pages. Colors created by the Pantone company that are copywritten. Unit of measurement in design. 6 picas to a point. Written 1p0, 0p6, 2p11, etc. Unit of measurement in typography. 12 points to an inch. Written 10 pt, 12.5 pt, etc. The three colors that create all other colors - varies between subtractive/additive. An interesting quote that is made larger and visually appealing to attract reader eyes. Text rests on the left/right-hand side of a column and leaves white space on the other. Red, green and blue. Format used for all screen-based images like the web. White text on a colored background. Fonts that lack “feet” that jut out of the top and bottom of the letters. Fonts that resemble handwriting. Colors made from primary colors. Fonts with “feet” that jut out of the top and bottom of letters. Story, graphic or other element that tells a story related to a larger story nearby. Set of two facing pages in a book. List of fonts, font sizes, colors, etc. used in a publication for consistency. Minor headline used to explain or further elaborate on a main headline. Smaller, square sized newspaper publication. Element designed to preview stories coming later in a publication. Pre-made designs or design elements to assist with design consistency and efficiency. When two similarly sized headlines rest next to one another. The space between words. White space or text with less than two ways to “escape” the page. Three colors that sit apart from each other on a color wheel in perfect thirds. Study of fonts and type. Font with a line underneath. Set of a publication, usually by year. Empty space. An element repeated throughout a book for purposes of unity. Standalone pictures and captions.

LAW & ETHICS censorship copyright ethics fair use law libel obscenity plagiarism prior restraint prior review sensationalism

When a publication is prevented from distributing information. Law acknowledging ownership of a creative work. Guidelines on how a person or group of people should behave. Laws allowing limited use of copywritten material without permission. Set of rules created by governments; may conflict with ethics. Printed lies about an individual that harms them in some way. Words or images that violate common decency standards. Copying creative works partially or completely. Being prevented from publishing information before publication. Law/rule requiring oversight before publication. Journalism designed to inflame emotions.

ONLINE gallery SEO summary (online)

PHOTOGRAPHY

aperture back lighting bird’s eye view crop Creative Commons/ public domain depth of field DSLR exposure focal length f-stop

Set of photos that tell a story visually; can be standalone or with stories. Search-engine optimization; process of making search-friendly headlines and stories. A sentence to give online readers a basic idea of the story before clicking on it. Opening that lets in light. Lighting behind a subject; usually creates a rim light. Angle taken from above a subject, or above the normal person’s viewpoint. Cut off parts of an image. Set of laws that let copyright expire after a certain time period, or the system that allows certain creative works to be donated to the public domain. The measurement of how much of a photo is in focus. Digital single-lens reflex. Uses a mirror to reflect light from the lens into the viewfinder. The brightness/darkness of an image. How far a lens reaches. Written like 50mm, 18mm, 70-200mm, etc. Measurement/another name for aperture.

ISO photo illustration photo series photo story/essay photoby rule of thirds shutter release shutter speed wide angle worm’s eye zoom angle

Number that measures the sensitivity of a digital sensor or film. A photo that has been digitally manipulated in some way. A set of photos that shows action over time. A set of photos that tell a story without written copy other than captions. Aka, photo credit. Tells who took the photo. A set of two vertical and horizontal lines that divide an image into perfect thirds. Button that tells the shutter to open, revealing the sensor. Measurement of how fast the shutter opens and closes. Measured in seconds. Angle wider than 50mm “normal” vision (18mm, 24mm, 35mm, etc.). Angle taken from below the normal eyeline, or below the main subject. Angle closer than 50mm “normal” (85mm, 200mm, 400mm, etc.)

STORY TYPES/PUBLISHING advance/preview circulation colophon columnist column (opinion) cover critical review deadline digest distribution divider editor editorial editorial board endsheets evergreen feature story general assignment reporter hard news index jargon ladder letter to the editor Maestro session/method man-on-the-street morgue natural spread op-ed opening/closing point-counterpoint political/editorial cartoon postgame story pregame story proofs Q&A rate sheet recap roster signature soft news spine theme copy

Story that lets readers know about an upcoming event. Number of readers a publication reaches. Page in a book describing the technical, publication information. Person who regularly writes opinion stories on a specific topic. A recurring opinion section dedicated to a particular person or topic. The front page/outside of a publication. Opinion piece about a creative work. Time when the publication, or publication parts, are due. List of assignments and where they will go in the publication. System of delivering the product to readers. Pages that introduce a new section of the yearbook. Person who oversees production of a certain element of a publication. Written piece that provides the opinion of a publication’s editorial board. Set of reporters, editors and sometimes community members. Pages that hold the pages to the cover; sometimes used or table of contents. Story that is interesting regardless of when it runs. Story that focuses on human emotion element of the news. Person who writes about any topic that might be assigned to them. News written to convey information without much “fluff”. Listing in a book of the people, places and organizations mentioned and where. Industry language of a group, much like the list you’re reading right now. The organizational system of a book. Short opinions written by readers for the newspaper. Collaborative story planning method including writers, editors, and designers. Set of short quotes from random people on one topic. Room where old issues and editions of a publication are kept. Two pages that are printed side-by-side seemlessly. Page opposite of the editorial page for other opinions from non-staffers. Pages of a yearbook explaining the theme concept verbally and visually. Two (or more) differing opinions run side-by-side. Visual opinion drawn in cartoon form. Sports story written after that focuses on results, records, sometimes play-by-play. Sports story focusing on the history of a match-up, potential storylines, etc. Files of designed pages that need editing or approved. Story format of questioned followed by answers. Listing of all the ad prices for the publication. Story published after an event/happening that explains just what happened. List of all the people in an team, organization or group. Set of 16 pages. News written to show the emotional side of news or less important events. The edge of a book that contains its title and other information. Written to explain the theme choice; usually on the opening/closing.

REPORTING beat brainstorming closed-ended question computer-assisted reporting conflict

A topic that is newsworthy to a publication’s audience, e.g. football, politics, etc. Listing all potential ideas that could be used. Question with a limited number of responses. Collecting information from websites and online databases. Two or more people fighting over something; one person fighting internally.

credibility cub reporter editorialize embargo formal interview game story impact in-depth reporting investigative reporting localization news brief news feature news judgement news value objectivity off the record on background on deep background on the record open-ended question personality profile primary source prominence proximity secondary source tertiary source timeliness tip uniqueness

The level of trustworthiness readers or sources have in a reporter. A new or beginner reporter; typically assigned to less serious topics. To write objective news in an opinionated way. To hold off on releasing information provided by an organization until a particular time. A planned and scheduled meeting for an interview. A play-by-play account of a sporting event. How many or how much people are affected by a news topic. Examining a particular story from many angles in many stories. Stories that require extensive information collecting; usually to uncover corruption or wrongdoing. To show impact of a story happening elsewhere on a local level. Series of very short stories on topics not chosen for more in-depth reporting. News story written to include a humanizing element, like a mix of news and features. The sense and process of determining what is published and what is not. The measurement of the newsworthiness of a story. Stories written to convey information without favoritism to one side or another. Agreement to not publish any information from a source. Agreement to quote a source without naming them. Agreement to use information but not quote nor name them. Agreement to use a person’s name, information and quotes as needed. Most preferred! Question with many different possible, longer answers. General feature story on one person for a particular reason. First-hand information from people involved or documents directly about a subject. The importance of the people, events, days, or other celebrity factor of a subject. Nearness of a news story. Second-hand source that got information from primary sources like news articles. Collections of information from first- and second-hand sources like encyclopedias. Newness of a news story. Information passed along to a reporter for potential reporting. Stories that don’t happen every day; man bites dog stories.

WRITING angle attribution body copy call to action cliché copy copy editing inverted pyramid lead/lede nut graph quote (direct) paraphrased quote partial quote quote/ transition formula stylebook transition

Particular story on a topic; the way a story is written to convey the information. Part of a story that says where the information came from; use for all non-common knowledge. The written part of a story. In an opinion piece, the part that tells someone to do something. A phrase or part of writing that is overused. Any text. Process of correcting copy for facts, flow, law/ethics, punctuation, style, grammar and spelling. Story that starts with most important information and least at the bottom; use for breaking news. First sentence of a news story. Section of a story that includes the 5Ws and H of the newsworthy information. Word-for-word information from a primary source; use quotation marks. General idea of what a person said, but not word-for-word. No quotation marks. Part of a word-for-word quote embedded within a sentence; use quotation marks. Method of separating quotes using a quote followed by one or more transitional paragraphs with new information or paraphrased quotes that introduce the next quote. Reference guide used to show proper ways to spell, capitalize, etc. AP Stylebook most famous. Paragraph with new information/idea that introduces a quote that will follow.

I see now the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are. — Mewtwo

Staff Databases

Click to be taken to the Google Drive location or document.

Panther Student Media Google Drive Sports Schedules/School Calendar Sports, Clubs & Organizations List Teacher Contact List Teacher Quick Reference List Teacher Schedule List Ladder/Page Assignments Sales Forms Senior Tribute Contact List Potential Advertisers Advertising Tracking Sheet Yearbook Budget

Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Albus Dumbledore

Helpful Websites

FACT-CHECKING WEBSITES • Snopes.com: An independent website that got its start in 1994, investigating urban legends, hoaxes, and folklore, now particularly online. • Politifact.com: An independent website from the journalism organization the Poynter Center that lists popular facts floating around politics and the web. Rates those facts on a scale from True to Pants on Fire. • FactCheck.org: A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics, created by The Annenberg Public Policy Center. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding. • AllSides.com: Website that curates news from all sides of the political aisle. • Washington Post Fact Checker: News website fact checking that rates only false statements on a Pinocchio scale. WEBSITES TO SPARK STORY IDEAS • TED.com: Nonprofit group dedicated to spreading ideas. Known for TEDTalks • 99u: Adobe’s website dedicated to helping creative people with big ideas. • Buzzfeed: Popular and current social news content. • Digg: Website with popular web content. • Wonderopolis: Education website with articles that answers basic “What is” questions. • Social media: Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc. all have tons of ideas because it’s what people are TALKING about. • Change.org: User-submitted petitions could spark ideas about actual local activism or causes on the site, or ideas of what to look for. • Kickstarter: Crowdfunding for new inventions and ideas. Use to see what local people are asking for. • GoFundMe:Crowdfunding for personal needs, projects and ideas. Use to see what local people are asking for. • DonorsChoose: A crowdfunding project for teachers. See what teachers are asking for at the school. • Indiegogo: Crowdfunding for inventors and ideas. Use to see what local people are asking for. • Top 100 Works of Journalism in the United States in the 20th Century • Best of SNO: Works selected as high-quality by the SNO web hosting. Use to see what other students are writing about.

REPORTING HELP WEBSITES • Google Alerts: This sends you alerts to news stories straight to your email. You can set how often you get emails as well. • Census Data Explorer: Searchable data from the Census. • Montgomery County • IRE Census Database: A simple Census database made by the IRE collective. • Trendsmap.com: Explore trending Twitter topics by interactive map. • TrendHunter.com: Explore new trends by category. • FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UBR): National crime statistics from the FBI. • Local campaign filings (See Local Websites section for Montgomery County Elections) • CharityWatch: Financial watchdog of charity organizations. • Candid: Financial watchdog for charity organizations; owns GuideStar and Foundation Watch. • GuideStar.org: Searchable database of nonprofit organization filings. • 990 finder: Database of 990 forms filed for private foundations, public charities and other nonprofits. • State Campaign Finance Filings (Texas Ethics Commission): Searchable database for most Texasbased elections. • Federal Campaign Finance Filings (Federal Elections Commission): Searchable database for federal campaign filings. • Federal Office of Government Information Services: FOIA service for the public. • OpenSecrets.org: Nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit, the Center for Responsive Politics is a research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. • MapLight: Database of contributions to federal officeholders. • Sunlight Foundation: National, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses civic technologies, open data, policy analysis and journalism to make government and politics more accountable and transparent. • Government Accountability Office: Investigative side of Congress. • Ballotpedia: Database of state and federal election results. • WayBackMachine: Archive of the internet. Really… • Cyber Cemetery: Archive of now-defunct government websites. • Library of Congress: Searchable Library of Congress database. • Acronym Finder: Database of acronyms (abbreviations) and what they mean.

• Dogpile: Search engine combining Google, Yahoo!, Bing, Ask.com, About.com and others. • Duck Duck Go: Search engine that uses crowdsourced information to improve search quality and relevance. • Help A Reporter: Service that connects journalists and sources. (Free and paid options) • NETR Online: Search engine for real estate and other public data. • Similar Site Search: Search engine for websites similar to another. • Wolfram Alpha: Artificial intelligence search engine that provides answers, not links. • Yippy.com: Search engine that doesn’t track user data. • Who Is: Website to find domain name registration and availability information. • VisualPing: Monitors websites for changes and emails you when updates occur. • BRBPub.com: Free records search and public records directory. • Montgomery County • City-Data.com: Snapshots about city data. • Population Reference Bureau: Information about population trends. • White Pages: Search for people using publicly available information. • Zaba Search: People search engine. PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHICS, & DESIGN WEBSITES Photography • Search.CreativeCommons.org: Search this, and other, websites to find photos that are free to use, modify, even commercially. You MUST make sure to look at the license type and see what you need to do in order to use the photos. Alternative websites for free-to-use photos: • ALL photos by the federal government have no copyright on them. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention releasing a series of images and graphics is free to use. However, you still need to cite them ethically. • Flickr Creative Commons Search • Pixabay • Google Image Advanced Search • Unsplash • New Old Stock (Older pictures) • Picspree • Burst by Shopify • Picography • Reshot • FreeImages • Free for Commercial Use • Pexels • Realistic Shots • Skitterphoto • Little Visuals

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Life of Pix Gratisography Free Nature Stock (nature pictures) Magdeleine StockSnap FreeStocks KaboomPics (searchable by color) ISO Republic FoodiesFeed (food pictures) FOCA Stock (includes videos, photos, social media design templates, and wallpapers. • Adobe Stock (costs money, but some royalty-free options) Fonts: Always check the license of the font before using it for commercial use, not just personal. Some of these websites offer premium (paid) fonts as well, so make sure you’re on the right part of the website. • WhatFont: A Google extension to see what fonts a website is using. • Google Fonts (double check the license on each font) • Font Squirrel • Fonstruct (font creation website) • DaFont (However, after searching, click “More options” and then “Public domain/GPL/OFL” and “100% free” next to the only as button. Otherwise, you may use a protected font.) • Fontesk (part of its website) • Font Meme • Font Space (part of its website) • UrbanFonts (part of its website) • FontFreak • Font Library (open source fonts) • FontSpring (part of its website) • Creative Fabrica (part of its website) • Font Shop (part of its website) • 1001 Fonts (check font for commercial use, not just personal) • Font Bundles (part of its website) • Pixel Surplus (part of its website) • Abstract Fonts (must check font for commercial use, not just personal) • Behance (check for license) • Befonts (check font for commercial use, not just personal) • Fontsly (check font for commercial use, not just personal) Colors • Adobe Color Themes: A website that allows you to create colors, color sets, and search colors and trends. You can also add these to an Adobe Creative Cloud Library. • Coolors.co: Allows you to cycle through randomly generated colors. • SitePalette: Google Chrome extension to show you what color palette a website is using.

Social Media Graphics • Free/limited free graphic design software for social media posts. • Crello • Canva • Adobe Spark (available through Conroe ISD SSO website) Graphic Illustrations & Infographics • Free or limited-free infographic, creating/education websites: • Feather Icons: Free, open-sourced icons. • Piktochart • Infogram • Visme • Tableau Public • Genially • Datawrapper • Easel.ly (paid subscription) • FlowingData: Website with tutorials for data visualization. • Guardian Datablog: Website with examples of good data journalism. • Create free/limited free, interactive or graphic maps for websites. • MapBox • ZeeMaps • Carto • Heatmapper: Use data from spreadsheets to create heat maps. • Google Maps My Maps • Timeline by Knight Lab: Creates interactive timelines for websites. • Issuu.com: For curating documents. • DocumentCloud.org: Website for creating document databases. • Adobe tutorials for: • Photoshop: Best for all photo editing including composites and other retouching of raster-based graphics. • Lightroom: Best for nondestructive editing of exposure, etc. • InDesign: Desktop publishing software. • Illustrator: Graphic design software for vector-based graphics. • Premiere Pro: Professional video editing software. • Premiere Rush: Limited video editing software. • Bridge: Photo organization & metadata editing software. • After Effects: Motion graphics creation software. • Audition: Audio editing software. • InCopy: Copy editing software in combination with InDesign. • XD: App creation software. • Acrobat Pro: PDF creating, viewing and

editing software. • Spark: Site for creating social media graphics, web pages, and short videos. Like Canva. • The Adobe license comes with access to its apps including: • Aero: augmented reality authoring and viewing) • Capture: create color themes, patterns, vector-based shapes, 3D materials, type and custom brushes from photos. • Comp: Page layout for cellphones; allows you to draw on pages, which turn into shapes. Good for quick designs in meetings to discuss possible layouts. • Fresco: Painting app for more realistic brushwork. • Illustrator Draw: Create freeform vector illustrations. • Lightroom Mobile: High-powered photo editing for mobile. • Photoshop Express: Limited photo editing mobile tool. • Photoshop Fix: Photo retouching including heal, smooth, liquify, lighten, and other edits and adjustments. • Photoshop Mix: App focused solely on remixing/combining images and creating cutouts.. • Photoshop Sketch: Drawing app. • Premiere Rush: Create videos with same features as desktop version. • XD: Preview only app for designs created on desktop version. • Scan: Scan documents and turn them into PDFs. • Spark Page, Spark Post, and Spark Video. VIDEO & AUDIO MULTIMEDIA WEBSITES • Audio/Podcast Host Sites: If the SNO website cannot host your audio, these are free and easy podcast host sites. • PodBean • Anchor • Video Hosting Sites: If the SNO website cannot host the video you created, these are free video-hosting sites. • YouTube • Vimeo • Video/Slideshow Creating Sites: Websites that piece together audio, video, photos, text and graphics into moving slideshow videos. • Animoto • SoundSlides ($3-10/month)

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. — Ansel Adams

LOCAL WEBSITES • Caney Creek Website • Faculty Pages: When you need to find a faculty or staff member, helpful when you don’t know what they look like because their pictures are there. • Library Database Website (must be at school for access): This includes access to GALE scholastic search databases for scholarly articles. It’s worth searching academic databases every once in a while or use to find sources to interview for particularly complex topics. • Conroe ISD website • Policies, Handbooks and Forms: All the official district policies and handbooks. • Employee Homepage: For searching any employee-related information like human resources information. • Job Postings: Check this semi-regularly to see any people leaving or positions that have been newly created or closed. • Purchasing: For looking up information related to companies Conroe ISD contracts with. • Demographics: Access to all demographic studies Conroe ISD has commissioned, which includes breakdowns by location and projected growth. • Academic Accountability: Quick access to all district reports it has to file with the state including academic accountability and district/ campus goals. • Bond Update Website: A public portal to see the progress and information related to all Conroe ISD bonds. • Calendars: A quick access portal for all Conroe ISD calendars including testing and campus. • Departments: All Conroe ISD administration departments (not for campus level). • Media Relations: Conroe ISD media contact information. • Maps & Zones: Geographic information for Conroe ISD including who falls into which feeder zone. • News Releases: Public relations from Conroe ISD. It’s a good idea to pay attention to news releases because there are sometimes good stories there. • School Directory: A list of all schools in Conroe ISD. • Employee Directory: A list of all Conroe ISD administrative employees. • Conroe ISD School Board • Meeting Videos: Videos from past board meetings. • Meeting Information: Agendas, summaries. These are released before board meetings, and minutes are posted afterward. Good for preview stories. You need to contact Sarah

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Blakelock for the digital copy of the board book, which is a detailed version of the agenda with documents. • Conroe ISD Board Policy: All the legal policies Conroe ISD has on file with the State of Texas. It’s like the Conroe ISD Constitution. Conroe City Council Website: Homepage for the Conroe City Council. Only a small part of Caney Creek falls into this location, BUT residents shop there. So what the city council does can affect us. • City of Conroe Website: Homepage for the entire city. • City Election Homepage: Information related to City of Conroe elections, which includes the mayor and city council members. City of Conroe Police Department: Homepage for the City of Conroe police. It’s jurisdiction doesn’t extend far into CCHS, but some students/faculty could be arrested by officers in CPD. • Records Request Information: How to file public information requests through the City of Conroe. Montgomery County Commissioners Court: Homepage for the Commissioners Court, which is like the city council for the whole of Montgomery County. • Precinct 4 Homepage: This is the precinct that covers Caney Creek. • Meeting Agendas: Location of agendas for upcoming and past meetings. • Meeting Minutes: Location of minutes of how the last meeting went. • Meeting Videos: Location of past meeting recordings. Montgomery County Appraisal District: The county organization that determines how much property is worth and how much property tax it will have. This is good to use for finding the owners of properties, especially if you see a new business sign but not sure what’s going to go up there. • Property Search: A way to search all properties in Montgomery County. • Property Search by Map: A search function using an interactive map. Montgomery County District Clerk: For local criminal and civil case lookup. • You’ll need to request access before use. It’s free and easy. • Click “Accept” at the bottom • Then click “2. Registered Access for Civil/Family/Tax & Felony Criminal Cases” • Input the username and password Montgomery County Elections: Homepage for all elections in Montgomery County. • Election Results: All results from Montgomery County elections. They update live on election nights. • Public Information Requests: To get information

In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality. — Alfred Stieglitz

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on all candidate filings, voter history (whether they voted or not and when), registered voter lists, early voting daily history, and county maps. • You will need to register first. It’s free and instant! Montgomery County Maps: A list of different maps the county offers for you to search through including by precinct, government type and floodplain, among others. Montgomery County GIS: An interactive map with different overlay options. This is preferable when you want to play around with different search options. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: The law enforcement for the whole county. • Jail Roster: A list of people currently in jail (not in the past, you’ll need a records request for mug shots and past jail records). Records Request Information: Process for filing a records request with the MSCO. Conroe Courier Newspaper: Montgomery County’s largest newspaper and a branch of the Houston Chronicle. Community Impact Newspaper: A free monthly newspaper focused more on business, entertainment and public affairs. Graphic-heavy. Montgomery County Police Reporter: A “news organization” in Montgomery County focused on law enforcement. Has a bias in favor of law enforcement and occasionally acts in unethical manners. Be sure to check all information from them! Houston Public Media: Houston’s NPR and PBS stations; public media. Lone Star Community Radio: Conroe-based radio/ internet radio station that focuses on community affairs and entertainment. KSTAR 99.7: Conroe’s local radio station including a news show.

STATE WEBSITES • Texas Laws: All laws for the State of Texas. • Open Meetings Act: Law regarding public access to government meetings. • Public Information Act: Law regarding public access to government information. • Texas Open Government Guide (from Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press): A look at all Texas public information and meeting laws, including those called “pocket FOIA” laws hidden inside other laws. • Texas Appeal Lawsuits: Searchable database of appealed court cases in Texas. • Texas Education Agency: The state agency in charge of regulating public education. • Teacher Certification Lookup: A way to look up what teaching certifications teachers and administrators have. • Accountability Ratings: Summary of school

academic reports. • Academic Performance Reports (TAPR): An indepth report on school academic performance. • Accreditation Status: List of school districts sanctioned by the TEA to teach public school. • School Report Cards: A more visual-friendly version of accountability ratings and TAPR information, with some information from the TAPR not included. • School District Profiles: Demographic and (some) financial statistics. • Financial Accountability: Financial reports for school districts. • Reports and Data (all): Homepage for all TEA reports. • News Releases: Press releases from TEA. • TEA Communications (Media Relations): Media contacts for TEA. • Texas Legislature: Homepage for the Texas Legislature, both House and Senate. • Bill Search (general): Use to make first searches for various bills, including searches by author, sponsor, subject, committee, date and action taken. • Bill Search (by person): Used to search for bills by author, coauthor, sponsor, cosponsor, committee, subject, filing date, first on intent calendar, house referral date and senate referral date. • MyTLO: Account access, which allows many tools like bill lists, alerts, saved searches, mobile device support, and RSS feeds. • Calendars: Dates for both chambers. • Committees: Committee and members for both chambers. • Montgomery County Legislators: Below are the state representatives and senators for Montgomery County. • Rep. Cecil Bell (R-3, Magnolia, EMC): Legislature website. • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Official Website • Rep. Steve Toth (R-15, The Woodlands): Legislature website. • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Official Website • Rep. Will Metcalf (R-16, Conroe): Legislature website. • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Official Website

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• Sen. Robert Nichols (R-3, north/east Montgomery County): Legislature website. • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Official Website • Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-4, Conroe): Legislature website. • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Official Website Texas Comptroller Website: State agency in charge of taxes and purchasing. • Budget Lookup Tools: Information related to state agency budgets. • Data Visualizations: Graphics of state spending. • Bond Election Roundup: All bond elections in the state. • Reports: Collection of various financial reports for the state. • Sales Tax Records: Information about local sales taxes. • Search Datasets: Databases for tax permit holders. You can sometimes use this to look up new business that have filed in the area. This is a good way to get the scoop on a business that hasn’t even officially announced that it’s opening yet. Texas Sex Offender Registry: List of everyone convicted of a sex offense in the state - searchable by address, name, and institute of higher education. Texas Tribune: A statewide nonprofit news agency focused mainly on public affairs. • State employee salary lookup: A database of 16 State of Texas agencies. Houston Chronicle: Regional newspaper for the Houston area. Dallas Morning News: Regional newspaper for the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex. San Antonio-Express News: Regional newspaper for the San Antonio area. Austin American Statesman: Regional newspaper for the Austin area. UIL Website: Homepage for the University Interscholastic League, run by the University of Texas, which oversees almost all competitions in the state. • UIL Academics: Homepage for all UILsanctioned academic competitions. • UIL Athletics: Homepage for all UIL-sanctioned athletic competitions. • UIL Music: Homepage for all UIL-sanctioned music competitions including band, choir, orchestra and mariachi. • UIL Spirit : Homepage for all UIL-sanctioned cheerleading competitions. • UIL Media Relations: Press contacts for UIL,

including photography credentials for statelevel events • UIL Policies: All official UIL policies. NATIONAL WEBSITES • USA.gov: Homepage for the United States government. • Congress • Bill search • Committees • Members • Congressional Record • House Floor Summary (link to video on page) • Senate Floor Summary • Rep. Kevin Brady (R-District 8, TX) • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • House Website • Official Website • Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Senate Website • Official Website • Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) • Ballotpedia • Wikipedia • Texas Tribune • Senate Website • Official Website • White House: Official website of the U.S. executive branch. • U.S. Executive Branch List of Websites: Hosted through the Library of Congress. • U.S. Department of Education: In charge of all federal education programs including some funding of local school districts. • Data & Statistics: About K-12, college and universities. • Laws & Guidance: All rules required through the U.S. Department of Education including IDEA (students with disabilities), ESSA (equal inclusion and testing requirements) and FERPA (student privacy laws). • Supreme Court: United States Supreme Court website • Opinions: List of all SCOTUS opinions (or rulings) by year. • Oral Arguments: All oral arguments and transcripts from the Court hearing. • Case Documents: A list of all filings and rulings in a case, arranged in chronological order. • Oyez: A multimedia Supreme Court archive website. • SCOTUSblog: A website that breaks down Supreme Court cases in plain English.

• PACER: Public access to federal court electronic records. All federal lawsuits will be in this location. You must register for access. • International Trade Administration: Market research information. • Trade Data & Analysis: Statistics by market and industry updated quarterly. • LegiStorm: Searchable database of U.S. congressional staff salaries and directory. • RealClearPolitics: An aggregate website for all national and (some) state polling information. • ProPublica: National investigative journalism nonprofit organization, partnered with the Texas Tribune. • Washington Post: National newspaper based in Washington, D.C. • New York Times: National newspaper based in New York • National Public Radio (NPR): National nonprofit radio station with affiliates across the country. • Public Broadcasting Service (PBS): National nonprofit TV station with affiliates across the country. • C-SPAN: Nonprofit cable news outlet focusing on public affairs; famous for live broadcasts of sessions of Congress. • Associated Press: Most ubiquitous wire service that spans the globe. Considered the gold-standard in unbiased reporting. • Reuters: Second-most well-known wire service that spans the globe. If the AP is the gold-standard, Reuters is No. 2. (Pronounced roy-terrs) • United Press International: Another international wire service based in America. JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION WEBSITES • Texas Organizations • ILPC (Texas) • Contests • Conventions & Workshops • Results • Resources & Forms • Texas Association of Journalism Educators • Contests • Awards • Fall Fiesta • Calendar • Association of Texas Photography Instructors • Contests • Past Winner Galleries • National Student Organizations • Student Press Law Center: A nonprofit specializing in student media legal issues. • Public Records Request Generator: A tool to create public records requests that are professional and cite proper law. • Presentations & Handouts: Educational resources.

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• Student Press Freedom Day: Information about the holiday. • Knowledge Base: Resource database. • Law Library: Legal resource database. • Legal Hotline: Contact information for when you need legal help. • Ask SPLC: Forum where SPLC staffers answer questions. • New Voices: Information about the New Voices initiative to get states to pass Tinkerstandard laws for student publications. • Texas New Voices: ^ but the Texas version. • Newspaper Theft Resources: What to do before and after newspapers are stolen. • Press Releases: Media releases from SPLC. • Quick Guides: Nutshell versions of various laws that apply to student (and sometimes professional) publications. • Advertising FAQ • Cyberlaw & Online Publishing FAQ • Copyright & Fair Use FAQ • Freedom of Information FAQ • High School FAQ • Libel & Privacy FAQ • Yearbook FAQ Columbia Scholastic Press Association: National journalism organization based at Columbia University that holds conventions and gives out the Crown Awards and Gold Circle awards. • Award-Winner Gallery • Crown Award Winners • Gold Circle Winners • Conventions & Workshops • Important Dates • Future Dates National Scholastic Press Association: National journalism organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that gives out the Pacemaker Awards and individual awards. • Pacemaker Award, Individual & Best of Show, Scholarships & Results • Resources • Best of High School Press publication • Events (including nationals) Journalism Educators Association: National journalism organization about journalism education. Hosts the national convention with the CSPA and gives out scholarships, and student and educator awards. Quill & Scroll Honor Society School Newspapers Online

• National Professional Organizations: Almost every organization has awards, resources, databases, listserves, memberships, etc. This is a good place to look for award-winning work, help with specific things like design, reporting or writing.

There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment. — Robert Frank

• American Photographic Artists • American Press Institute • American Society of Business Publication Editors • American Society of Media Professionals • American Society of Newspaper Editors (now News Leaders Association) • Asian American Journalists Association • Associated Press Media Editors • Associated Press Sports Editors • Associated Press Stylebook • Association for Women in Communications • Association for Women in Sports Media • Association of Health Care Journalists • Association of Magazine Media • Committee to Protect Journalists • Dow Jones Newspaper Fund • Education Writers Association • Investigative Reporters and Editors • National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting databases • Resource center • Freedom of information act center • Journalism and Women Symposium • National Association of Black Journalists • National Association of Broadcasters • National Association of Hispanic Journalists • National Federation of Press Women • National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association • National Newspaper Association • National Press Club • National Press Photographers Association • Native American Journalists Association • News Wise • News Media Alliance • News Guild • Online News Association • Organization of News Ombudsmen • Overseas Press Club • Poynter Institute • NewsU • Professional Photographers of America • Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting • Pulitzer Prizes • Radio-Television News Directors Association • Religion Newswriters Association • Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press • Reporters Without Borders • World Press Freedom Index 2019 • Royal Photographic Society • Society for News Design • Society of American Business Editors and Writers • Society of Environmental Journalists • Society of Professional Journalists • Code of Ethics • Freedom of Information • Job Center

• Student Resources • Journalist’s Toolbox: General resources. • South Asian Journalists Association • Transparency International WEBSITES ABOUT THE MEDIA • American Journalism Review: Published by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. • College Media Matters: How colleges are transitioning to journalism 2.0. • College Media Review: Publication of the College Media Association, an organization of college journalism advisers and advocates. • Columbia Journalism Review: Journalism watchdog and news agency published by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. • CubReporters.org: Kid-focused journalism website. • J-IDEAS: Ball State University publication about high school journalism. • Mashable: News site that covers media, digital culture, technology and entertainment. • Mediagazer: Aggregate site about media journalism. • Media Matters: Self-described left-leaning research center monitoring conservative news outlets. • NewsBusters: Media watchdog group. • New York Times Learning Center: Articles and help for student journalists. • Nieman Journalism Lab: About journalism in the internet age. • Pew Research Center for Journalism & Media: Research news about media and journalism. • Poynter Institute Newsletters: Information about media industry; The Poynter Report is important media news daily; Local Edition is about local news; The Cohort is about women in journalism; Factually is about fact-checking; Try This! Tools for Journalism is about the latest journalism tools; Weekly Training Digest is a weekly newsletter about Poynter’s online trainings. • TechCrunch: News about the web and technology. • Wired: Magazine (and website) about how technology affects culture, economics and politics. • Youth and Media: Website getting young people involved in the media from the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. — Thomas Jefferson

Websites I Find Helpful Write any websites you like below!

Student Media Policy I. STATEMENT OF POLICY

II. OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA

Freedom of expression and press freedom are fundamental values in a democratic society. The mission of any institution committed to preparing productive citizens must include teaching students these values, both by lesson and by example.

A. MISSION STATEMENT Panther Student Media will use the highest level of journalism both with respect to the law and commonly accepted journalistic ethics in order to inform the public in a non-biased manner on issues relevant to the Caney Creek High School community, provide a voice for the voiceless both adult and student members of the community, open up civil discourse on important issues, and challenge improper behavior or problematic practices of those in power at all levels.

As determined by the courts, student exercise of freedom of expression and press freedom is protected by both state and federal law, especially by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Accordingly, school officials are responsible for encouraging and ensuring freedom of expression and press freedom for all students. Conroe Independent School District’s School Board Policy declares that “all publications edited, published, and distributed in print or electronically in the name of the District or an individual campus shall be under the control of the campus and District administration and the Board. All school-sponsored publications approved by a principal and published by students at an individual campus shall be part of the instructional program, under the supervision of a faculty sponsor.” (FMA Local) CISD clarifies in FMA Legal: “The District’s educators shall exercise editorial control over style and content of student speech in school-sponsored expressive activities so long as their actions are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns. The District may refuse to disseminate or sponsor student speech that: a. Would substantially interfere with the work of the school. b. Impinges on the rights of other students. c. Is vulgar or profane. d. Might reasonably be perceived to advocate drug or alcohol use, irresponsible sex, or conduct otherwise inconsistent with the shared values of a civilized social order. e. Is inappropriate for the level of maturity of the readers. f. Does not meet the standards of the educators who supervise the production of the publication. g. Associates the school with any position other than neutrality on matters of political controversy. (Hazelwood Sch. Dist. v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260, 108 S. Ct. 562 (1988))” As an organization, Panther Student Media, which creates The Creek yearbook, and The Prowler newspaper and news website, will and has traditionally operated as a public forum for student expression and as voices in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues (except as noted within). Content in student media should reflect all areas of student interest, including topics about which there may be dissent or controversy.

B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENT JOURNALISTS Students who work on official, school-sponsored student publications or electronic media determine the content of their respective publications and are responsible for that content. They will not be subject to prior review or prior restraint within Constitutionally approved limits. These student journalists should: a. Determine the content of the student media using traditional reporting techniques and advise from the adviser when asked; b. Strive to produce media based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity and fairness based on thorough reporting, research and verification; c. Review material to improve sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as follow the Associated Press style and internal stylebooks; d. Check and verify all facts and quotations; and e. In the case of online comments for the website, determine the appropriateness and relevance, need for rebuttal comments and opinions and provide space therefore if appropriate before they are published to the website, as well as reaction to similar comments on social media platforms. C. EDITORIAL STRUCTURE Panther Student Media staff members will produce for all three mediums (yearbook, newspaper, and news website) in an effort to produce well-rounded multimedia journalists. Staff leadership shall consist of the leadership council, which must include the adviser-selected positions of: a. At least one editor-in-chief in charge of the yearbook production; b. At least one editor-in-chief in charge of the print newspaper production; c. At least one editor-in-chief in charge of the news website production and social media accounts; d. A marketing director in charge of ad sales, product sales, staff recruitment, and public relations; e. A photography editor in charge of scheduling coverage for all platforms and make high-level photography decisions; and f. Various section editors at the discretion of the other editors.

D. EDITORIAL BOARD The editorial board shall include all editors in chief, the photography editor, and the opinions editor (if one is chosen that year), as well as at least five others in any position selected by those editors. The print newspaper editor-inchief shall be in charge of designating the author of all staff editorials. a. Staff editorial positions must be made with a threefourths majority of the editorial board; and b. Editorial board members who disagree with the position of the board shall be given the opportunity to respond either as a group or individually on the same platform as the original editorial was published. E. ROLE OF THE ADVISER The adviser(s) of CCHS shall not act as a censor of the publication outside of what is allowed under Constitutional law. They shall provide: a. Advice and education on best journalistic practices; b. Advice on possible responses to ethical dilemmas; c. Direction to journalism legal resources at student request and/or need; d. Possible story ideas, so long as staff is aware the ideas are optional; e. Equipment capable of producing Panther Student Media products; f. Oversight of Panther Student Media finances; g. Opportunities for staff development and growth; h. Where to find high-quality journalistic resources; and i. Other advice at the bequest of staff. F. PRIOR REVIEW OF PUBLICATIONS No student media, whether non-school-sponsored or official, will be reviewed by school officials prior to distribution or withheld from distribution. The school assumes no liability for the content of any student publication, and urges all student journalists to recognize that with editorial control comes responsibility, including the responsibility to follow professional journalism standards each school year. G. STAFF CONDUCT Members of the Panther Student Media organization will be held to a higher standard than the average student. Students are expected to behave not only within the confines of the Student Code of Conduct and Student Handbook of Conroe ISD and Caney Creek High School, but also abide by staff requirements for conduct that shall be agreed to between the leadership council and adviser every year. Non-negotiable behavior infractions, on or off campus, that will result in immediate expulsion from staff include: a. Drug or alcohol use; b. Bullying or abuse, including repeated use of racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise hateful language to other staff or non-staff members; c. Intentional destruction or theft of Panther Student Media property or equipment, or that of Conroe ISD; d. Continued defiance of adviser or members of leadership council; e. Intentional fabrication of sources, facts, photos or other content that would otherwise tarnish the journalistic integrity of Panther Student Media; and f. Encouraging others to violate any non-negotiable behaviors.

H. BALANCE AND OBJECTIVITY Members of the Panther Student Media organization will present all news content in a manner befit a professional publication, which includes providing balance and objectivity to controversial topics within commonly accepted journalistic practice when producing content of any type, and remain an objective observer while acting as a member of staff. Staff members retain their ability to put forth their opinion into the public discourse when not acting as a member of staff including topics that are controversial. Staff members, however, may have privileges revoked or be removed from staff if their non-staff persona, including use of social media, begins to repeatedly tarnish the reputation and/or businessmaking ability of Panther Student Media at the discretion of the adviser after proper warning. I. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Panther Student Media staff members may be removed from staff, have certain privileges revoked, or be otherwise punished if they are caught by school administration, teachers or the adviser cheating or plagiarizing school work, or content being created for Panther Student Media products at the discretion of the adviser and policies created by the leadership council. J. OWNERSHIP OF STUDENT CONTENT All Panther Student Media staff members own the copyright in accordance with U.S. Copyright law, including the ownership of photos created for staff products, recruitment or other voluntary content creation. This includes stories, designs, photography, marketing product designs, and other content created at the bequest of a member of leadership council or as a favor for the adviser or other people while acting as a member of the Panther Student Media staff. Panther Student Media staff members shall agree to allow Panther Student Media to use all prior content created as a member of staff or using staff-owned equipment or materials in any form, including but not limited to journalistic publications, marketing, advertising or other public-relations materials for Panther Student Media, in perpetuity, including after graduation. No content may be used by Caney Creek High School, its faculty, staff or organizations, or Conroe ISD, without the prior, written consent of the staff member, so long as the contentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creator is able to be identified before use. If the staff member did not properly attach metadata, titles or other identifying information to the content while on staff, they agree that ownership of the content passes to Panther Student Media upon graduation for use in any sense. Panther Student Media staff members agree to allowing Caney Creek High School and Conroe ISD, even after graduation, to use, but not own, content from previous years for limited projects so long as proper credit is given in accordance with the Panther Student Media policy stated later in this document. These projects include: a. Back-to-school videos; b. District or campus presentations to employees; and c. Video presentations to students.

News is something someone wants suppressed. Everything else is just advertising. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lord Northcliffe

All content created by a person on staff that was not created while acting as a member of staff nor with staff equipment shall not be used without prior, written permission from the staff member. III. NEWS PLANNING, GATHERING, AND COVERAGE A. CONTROVERSIAL COVERAGE Panther Student Media staff members shall not shy away from controversial coverage. In fact, Panther Student Media encourages the coverage of controversial topics in order to train future journalists on handling sensitive areas, provide an opportunity for public discourse on such topics, and to allow student voice on topic areas that often neglect youth input. B. NEWS JUDGMENT AND NEWS VALUES Panther Student Media’s leadership council will be tasked with all news judgement and making final content decisions, including any optional story proposals presented by the adviser. Those stories, photos and other content shall be chosen based of timeless news values including timeliness, impact, proximity, conflict, uniqueness, and prominence. In short, members should choose stories both relevant, interesting and/or important for the CCHS community. C. DIVERSITY OF SOURCES Panther Student Media staff members shall produce content using a variety of sources including in-person and virtual interviews, experts, public records, staff-created data, historical records, crowdsourcing, and other commonly accepted journalistic sources. Panther Student Media staff members shall not rely on less than three sources for information is deemed controversial or potentially libelous for both the source and publication. In addition, all stories must contain a minimum of three sources including at least two interviews in order to preserve journalistic integrity and provide a diversity of voices and perspectives. D. TREATMENT OF SOURCES All sources should be treated with dignity and as humans first. Panther Student Media staff members shall not: a. Be allowed to deceive a source to gain journalistic benefit of any sort; b. Make coverage promises to sources without first discussing with their editor; c. Intentionally take quotes or information out of context; d. Take bribes, gifts or receive other benefits from sources if it will or can be perceived to remove their objectivity as a journalist in accordance with commonly accepted ethical practices; e. Argue, unnecessarily embarrass, or otherwise treat a source in an undignified or unprofessional manner; f. Use sources that the staff member has a personal relationship with unless previously approved as a last resort by their editor; nor g. Conceal any previous relationships with a source being covered from their editor or the adviser.

E. RECORDING SOURCES DURING INTERVIEWS Panther Student Media staff members must make all sources aware they are being audio or video recorded. It is encouraged that members ask permission to record, although Texas law allows recording so long as one party consents. Staff members should consult with an editor or the adviser on handling sources reluctant to be interviewed using recording devices. Staff members should also write notes as a backup to all recordings consistent with their personal style. All recordings and notes should be kept on file for at least a year in the Panther Student Media classroom and offices for the protection of both the source and publication. Staff members may be disciplined for failing to keep or destroying recordings of interviews. F. ALLOWING SOURCES TO PREVIEW CONTENT BEFORE PUBLICATION No sources are ever allowed to preview the final version of content about themselves in any circumstance. Panther Student Media staff members may, and are encouraged to, ask sources follow-up questions, clarify stances, circumstances and facts, or read back quotes for accuracy during or after an interview for the sake of accuracy and fairness. G. DISTRIBUTION OF CONTENT BEFORE PUBLICATION Panther Student Media staff members shall not give out staff-produced content before it is published without the consent of the leadership council (with exceptions of the section editors). Leadership council must make the unanimous decision to give away unpublished content, such as photographs, graphics, videos or unused story content, before the staff member agrees. In an effort to build community partnerships, publicity, and general goodwill within the school, leadership council is encouraged to provide organizations, school administration or faculty, and other community members content that will not be published anyway that is being requested to be used in: a. Intra-organization purposes like scrapbooking or end-ofyear presentations; b. Projects that will be publically viewable around the school or community, such as murals, decoration, digital displays, and playbills or sports programs; c. Slideshows and presentations for teacher classrooms, CCHS and Conroe ISD d. Other intra-school projects that will not act as a supplement for Panther Student Media publications. Panther Student Media staff members who get permission from leadership council to provide unused content shall require the recipient to provide proof that credit will be given to both Panther Student Media and the copyright owner of the content. Photographs provided shall include both the photographers name and “Panther Student Media” on every photograph. Bulk credit, such as “Courtesy of Panther Student Media”, nor solely oral credit before or after the images used is not permitted out of fairness to the copyright holder.

Journalism, like democracy, is not something that is achieved. It is a work in progress, and not every day is as good as the last. — John Maxwell Hamilton

Panther Student Media staff members will be forbidden from providing any person or organization photos if the person or organization failed to provide adequate credit during the last agreement for at least one full semester. Panther Student Media staff content shall not be used in an organization’s, Caney Creek High School’s, nor Conroe ISD’s public relation materials of any sort for any reason. Panther Student Media staff members may also not produce public relation materials while acting as a member of staff. Doing so jeopardizes the ethical standard of acting as unbiased journalists by association. Panther Student Media staff members may produce content on their own time as a favor or commission to organizations, Caney Creek High School or Conroe ISD as it does provide additional material for the staff member’s portfolio. Staff members may use Panther Student Media equipment in such favors or commissions, so long as the equipment is not needed for official Panther Student Media publication purposes. Panther Student Media staff may use content as collateral when trading for ad space to promote Panther Student Media products that would otherwise cost money with the unanimous vote of the leadership council. For example, leadership council could approve providing content for the football program in exchange for free ad space promoting yearbook sales or website visits. H. EMAILING AND TEXTING DIGITAL INFORMATION GATHERING Panther Student Media staff members shall use in-person interviews as the primary method of information gathering from people. Email and texting shall only be used as a method of clarification or follow-up questioning of sources unless as a matter of last resort approved by the publication’s editor. I. VERIFICATION Panther Student Media staff members must verify the identity of the person they are interviewing by any virtual communication methods including telephone calls, email, video chat, text messaging or social media communication. Failure to do so jeopardizes the factual accuracy of the content. J. UNNAMED SOURCES Unnamed sources are to be used as a method of last resort when the individual wishing not to be named is the only source of information and all other methods of collecting the information in other ways, including consultation with the editor and adviser for advice, have been thoroughly exhausted. The story must be of compelling interest to the school and not content with little impact to the community nor that could be described as run-of-the-mill.

job. Staff members should, instead, consult with their editor with any issues. Reporters should divulge the identity of their source only to the editor of the publication where it will be produced only in the scenario where the qualifications, authenticity or conflict of interest of the source has been called into question. Should the staff member refuse to divulge the identity of the source upon their editor’s request, the staff member or the editor may be allowed to pull the story from publication citing ethical concerns. K. TREATMENT OF MINORS Panther Student Media staff members should keep in mind that many sources are under the age of 18 and may not fully understand the law, the way journalism works, nor the full impact of quotes or information they divulge to a reporter. Staff members are encouraged to be reasonable when sources request their interview be retracted before publication in the interest of not producing a reputation of a heartless media group. However, interviews may not be retracted in part, nor may they be retracted after publication. The decision to retract an interview must be granted by an editor. Staff members are also encouraged to anticipate the impact of how a story or other content will impact the futures of the minor in their content. They should discuss potential impact with the minor, especially with regard to controversial topics, or potentially damaging quotes or information. The staff member and editors should keep in mind the balance between newsworthy information in the public interest and preventing unnecessary harm to an individual’s future. Staff members must get permission from parents to interview individuals under the age of 13. They require no permission to interview individuals aged 13 or older in accordance with legal precedent. Staff members must, however, ensure the minor aged 13 or higher truly understands that their information will be published to a wide audience and understand the impacts it could have. Staff members are encouraged to talk with the minor about parental permission or acknowledgement when the topic is especially controversial and could jeopardize their future in some way. L. PUBLIC RECORDS AND MEETINGS Panther Student Media members should be familiar with open meeting and open records laws in Texas and at the federal level. They are encouraged to file open records requests and attend open meetings during the newsgathering process. Staff members are also encouraged to challenge the legality of governmental bodies that deny requests or attendance of meetings that the staff member otherwise believed was open or accessible to the public with the help of the Student Press Law Center.

Panther Student Media staff members shall never inform the adviser of the identity of the unnamed source in any manner whatsoever due to the adviser’s role as an employee of the school institution, which could end in the adviser being forced to reveal the identity of the source or defy the district’s orders. This could result in the adviser being forced to choose between standing up for the publication and their

IV. PRODUCING CONTENT A. HANDLING LINKS Any links placed on The Prowler’s news website shall be directed directly to other websites that are relevant to the content of the story only. If the site linked lies behind a paywall, the link shall direct the user to the paywall’s home page, or the story redirecting through the home page. B. PORTRAITS All students and school personnel must have their portrait made with the official school portrait photographer in order to be included in the current volume of the publication. Panther Student Media will facilitate two separate dates for portraits on campus and will notify parents once the dates have been set. Panther Student Media is not responsible for students who switch name cards and appear in the wrong location in the yearbook. Panther Student Media does not produce picture packages, but merely handles their delivery. All complaints about picture packages, the portraits themselves, or portrait editing should discuss those complaints with the portrait company. Panther Student Media does not discriminate against clothing choices in portraits for political nor other expression protected by the First Amendment. It will require students who are out of dress code to take retakes, or be left out of the yearbook publication. Panther Student Media will adhere to the campus dress code policy and not any more restrictive. Panther Student Media staff is not responsible for portraits taken but not provided to them. Errors and or corrections, if needed, will be addressed on an individual basis among the student/parent, Panther Student Media staff and the school photographer. C. PROVIDING CONTEXT All Panther Student Media content shall include proper context such as historical information, conflicts of interest, and conflicting information in order to provide the reader the most complete version of the story. This includes the context of any quotes. No quotes shall be used when taken out of context, or the context should be provided if the quote would misrepresent the original meaning of the quote. D. WRITING PROCESS The reporter shall provide a draft of the story to their direct editor first, who will make high-level edits first, including analysis of use of sources, more information that is needed, and overall flow. The second draft will go to the same editor for refinement with grammar, AP Style and other changes to syntax. This process will repeat until the section editor gives their approval. The section editor will give the story to the editor-in-chief for final approval. The adviser will see it after any final changes only to give any suggestions for legal, ethical and journalistic standard advice. They shall only direct a change content within Constitutionally allowed measures.

E. ADVERTISING To help finance the productions, the staff may sell advertising at rates published annually. Students who appear in advertisements (other than senior tributes, which are not “selling” or “advertising” any product or service) must sign a model release. The editorial board reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of advertising and refuse sale and publication without cause. No advertising will be published for activities illegal to the youngest member of the student population. The yearbook will sell space for senior recognition and businesses as determined by the editorial board. The staff will publish a payment and submission schedule by Aug. 1 of each year and reserves the right to refuse publication to any parent or advertise who does not meet deadlines. Payments will not be refunded. Errors in ads and senior tributes could be addressed in the following manner. a. Correction of minor errors with a reprint or reprints of the ads on stickers. b. Partial repayment up to cost of the book for misspelled names or major errors. c. Complete refund only in cases of errors that are deemed to destroy the intent of the ad. Businesses will be held to the same expectations as senior tributes. The Creek yearbook and The Prowler newspaper/ news website will not be responsible for errors in printing caused by submissions that do not meet published requirements or standards. Acceptance of advertising shall not constitute approval or endorsement of any product, service, organization, or issue referenced in the advertising. F. SOCIAL MEDIA (WILL BE COVERED IN A WEEK 12 ASSIGNMENT) G. USE OF PROFANITY Articles will only contain profanity if the story would not be understandable otherwise or the profanity is the cornerstone of the context of the article. Use of profanity must have the unanimous approval of the leadership council. If there is profanity used, the article shall contain a warning for readers before the first sentence explaining that there will be use of profanity and an explanation of why it was used. In other instances of less vital profanity, the profane words shall be described or simply referred to as “profanity” in the story. H. OBITUARIES Should a student or staff member die at any time during the current coverage period, Panther Student Media will treat the death in a tasteful, respectful manner. In the yearbook people section with student/staff portraits, the portrait of that person will appear as it would under normal circumstances. If deadlines allow, the death may be covered as a news event in The Prowler’s web or print products if deemed appropriate by the editorial board.

All deaths for faculty, staff, students and administrators will be included in a single tribute in the yearbook with a listing of all those who died in the school year up until the final deadline, which is usually just before April 1. Students who commit mass violence such as a school shooting or other terrorist activity on or off campus will not appear in such a tribute. Families and/or friends or other parties may purchase space for a memorial or tribute to appear in the advertising section of the yearbook, and may do so at the “early-bird” pricing structure regardless of purchase date, but advertising space generally is available only AugustDecember and production of these pages is complete by January. Students may choose to cover the death as a news story and/or possible feature in the next issue of The Prowler or online depending on the situation, including cause of death and timing. It is the aim of the staff to handle any such situation in a fair and sensitive manner. Coverage is not a guarantee and staff members have the right to not cover a death for any reason including the manner of death. I. SPONSORED CONTENT There shall be no sponsored content in Panther Student Media products outside of traditional advertisements in an effort to prevent reader confusion. J. VISUAL REPORTING All content in Panther Student Media shall be produced by the student journalists creating the publication including photography and graphics. Content provided to any Panther Student Media publication for use must be in writing of some sort, which will be kept on file for at least one year. Credit must be clear and include wording such as “Photo used with permission from” and the person’s name. Copywritten work may not be used without written permission from the copyright holder in any situation. Staff members must include proof of permission. Staff members who forge permission or deceive an editor or adviser will be immediately removed from staff and will be held liable for any damages resulting from potential lawsuits. Creative Commons or public domain works used in the publication must be correctly credited with the appropriate CC license. Staff members using CC works must have proof of the license with the work and is responsible for ensuring the credit is adequately provided in accordance with the law. Staff members who forge a license or deceive an editor or adviser will be immediately removed from staff and will be held liable for any damages resulting from potential lawsuits. K. GUIDELINES FOR BREAKING NEWS All breaking news stories should be checked by at least one section editor and an editor-in-chief before going online. Reporters ought to keep in mind that being first is not the priority. Accuracy will take precedence over being first to the story.

L. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The opinion section of the newspaper and the news website will have a prominent notice displayed advising readers where they can send in guest columns and letters to the editor. All letters to the editor will be held to the same standards of grammar, style and accuracy as other content in the newspaper without sacrificing the core intent of the letter. If there are incorrect facts that, if removed, would jeopardize the core content of the letter, the writer will be contacted to rewrite the letter, give permission to remove the information, or to ask if they would want to retract the letter. Libelous or copywritten information is not permitted. The letter should appear in the following print edition, and online within a reasonable time period. The editor of the product in question may respond, or allow a staff member to respond, if leadership council gives majority approval. M. GUEST WRITERS/COLUMNISTS The Panther Student Media products, with exception to the yearbook, will allow space for guest columnists and writers within reason. Editors are encouraged to seek new columnists regularly to widen the diversity of voices, perspectives and realities of the community. N. CORRECTIONS POLICIES The print publications can be a $100,000+ student business produced as part of a learning experience in the curriculum, and it is not possible to reprint the book or newspaper if/ when minor errors arise. The staff regrets any errors and learns from constructive feedback provided via surveys, focus groups and thoughtful email messages. The process for creating the yearbook and each issue of the newspaper is rigorous and involves multiple rounds of careful editing. Because the yearbook is printed once annually, it is not possible to run corrections. If a staff discovers, from any source, that a factual error or major mistake was published and passed the editors, the editor(s)-in-chief will issue a written apology to those affected. Errors discovered in the print product will be published both in the next print edition and on the web. It will also be given the same level of prominence in promotion that the initial content was given. Corrections for errors in the news website will only appear on the website unless the editor(s) believe it is in the interest of the news organization to respond in print as well. V. SALES A. YEARBOOKS Yearbooks will be on sale each year from August through the last day of January. Price will vary and increase based on a scheduled rate plan, which will be published on the CCHS website, social media, yearbook website and on the printed order forms. Students who do not purchase a book in advance run the risk of not receiving one; only a small number of extra books will be ordered and will be available for late purchase on a first come, first served basis for cash or money order only. No checks will be accepted for yearbook sales during May distribution. Exchanges can be made for books with minor flaws if no writing has been done in the book. If a book has been written in, then no exchange can be made unless the adviser feels the flaw in the book is of major proportion (pages missing, pages in upside down).

Journalism is a career which demands the highest professionalism. It demands responsibility as well, for the line between honest revelation and disingenuous sensationalism is sometimes perilously thin. — Margaret Thatcher

It will be the responsibility of the buyer to provide proof of purchase if the staff can provide no record. A valid receipt or a cancelled check deposited in the publications account will constitute proof of purchase. Any purchased book not claimed within the calendar year it is produced will become the property of the program and the price forfeited. Students who withdraw or move away from CCHS can pick up books in person or can have alternate arrangements made with the adviser. The staff and editorial board will determine the cost of an individual copy, number of pages, and size of the yearbook based on a balanced budget. Yearbooks are not guaranteed to grow nor remain the same in terms of size nor number of pages from one year to the next. B. YEARBOOK AND YEARBOOK AD REFUNDS Refunds are not allowed on any yearbook product - the book itself or ads - after yearbooks have been delivered because the number of yearbooks purchased depends on pre-sales. Exchanges may be made in accordance with Section A above. Refunds may be made on any product - books, ads, etc. - prior to the date listed on the contract for that item. For yearbooks themselves, this is usually the last day in January because Panther Student Media must make final page count and book order decisions on the first day of February. For ads, this is usually the beginning of December when advertising pages are sent to the plant. Once the ads are sent to the plant, no refunds will be issued for any reason, including a family forgetting to submit content required on the ad contract.

C. POSTING TO PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA Staff members are held to a higher standard than other students on campus. The adviser will not monitor personal social media and students retain their rights to free speech. However, if the adviser or an editor is notified of behavior that violates Panther Student Media guidelines, tthe adviser reserves the right to remove students from staff for misbehavior and other personal social media activity that can shine a negative light upon the program and staff at large. D. POSTING ONLINE The web editor-in-chief will be in charge of all posts to The Prowler website and have access to the passwords. They may appoint individuals to assist with posting stories online. The website shall be updated at least five times a week with new stories, photo galleries, or other online-only content. E. EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT PROCEDURES All students should complete the Camera Checkout Form available in the staff Google Drive any time they plan to take a camera outside of school hours. This includes noting all equipment, camera number, SD card number and other auxiliary equipment before taking it from the classroom. They must also note the purpose they are checking out a camera for and when it will be returned. Continued late return or failure to check out the equipment properly may result in removal of staff equipment at the discretion of the photography editor, editors-in-chief or the adviser.

C. NEWSPAPER/NEWS WEBSITE The Prowler student newspaper and news website will be free and open to the public as a forum for discussion. Advertising shall be sold to support Panther Student Media operations in accordance with advertising policies above. VI. TECHNOLOGY A. CELLPHONE USE Panther Student Media staff members should only be on their personal cellphones during classtime if they are conducting business for publication-related purposes such as calling businesses, sources or other business needs. Other than that, class will follow the CCHS cellphone policy of no phones bell to bell. When on assignment, staff members should limit their cellphone use as to not miss important elements of their coverage. Staff members may be denied future assignments if their personal cellphone use jeopardizes coverage. B. POSTING TO STAFF SOCIAL MEDIA The web editor-in-chief will be in charge of all social media posts to staff accounts and have access to the passwords. They may appoint a social media manager to handle all social media posts. The accounts will be updated at least three times a week with photos, website posts and other information as needed.

Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; George Orwell

Code of Ethics

Adapted from the National Scholastic Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists, and Kirkwood High School codes of ethics

All Panther Student Media staff members believes the duty of journalists is to report truth. We believe journalistic publications facilitate and guide the direction of public discourse while acting in their Constitutionally protected role to educate, inform, entertain and sometimes persuade the public on matters of current affairs. We believe that a well-informed public is the lifeblood of a democratic society and the autonomy of individuals to make moral and efficient choices in their personal and professional lives, and in the voting booth. We believe that those responsibilities come with a heavy burden, which include being responsible, fair, honest, accurate, independent and accountable (both of those in power and ourselves) all while minimizing harm. As such, we accept this code of ethics as written below: 1. BE RESPONSIBLE. 1. Understand that student journalists are custodians, not owners, of their news medium, and they have an inherent obligation in decision-making to consider the heritage of their news medium, the values of the school community, the tenets of the school mission, the pedagogic concerns of school officials, and the wants and best interests of readers/listeners/ viewers. 2. Keep yourself, the reporter, out of print. It’s not about you; it’s about the readers/listeners/viewers you serve. For the most part, student reporters and editors should not appear in the media they represent unless they are legitimate newsmakers. In those cases, the particular student journalists should have no influence on the coverage, and any conflict of interest should be disclosed. 3. Staffers must declare conflicts and avoid involvement in stories dealing with members of their families. Staff members should not cover–in words, photographs or artwork–or make news judgments about family members or persons with whom they have a financial, adversarial or social relationship. Intra-staff dating is not recommended if one person assigns or evaluates the work of the other person or if one is in a position to promote the other to a higher staff position. 4. Strive for substantive stories that produce insight, generate accountability and inspire reader interest and engagement. Do not yield to those who would suppress such insight or resist accountability. 5. Remember that protections of the First Amendment were created to serve not the press but rather the people, and as a journalist guard the people’s interests above all others. 6. Know the legal rights of student journalists and balance those rights with ethical responsibilities. Having the right to say something doesn’t make it right to say it. Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm

or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness. 7. Recognize that legal access to information differs from an ethical justification to publish or broadcast. 8. Defend relentlessly the First Amendment rights of students. Protect relentlessly media advisers from recriminations brought about by their advocacy of student rights. 9. Demonstrate credibility and exemplify trustworthiness, reliability, dependability and integrity in and beyond journalism work. Your personal attributes affect the integrity of the news medium you work for. 10. Be careful in covering stories about wrongdoing not to perpetuate misdeeds. Printing a photograph of malicious graffiti expands the vandal’s canvas. 11. Do not allow vulgar or profane language to overshadow the essence of a story. If used, have compelling purpose and rationale to justify the audience’s need to read/ hear vulgar or profane words. Consider alternatives to using profanity. The staff may decide to print or to limit the use of these words depending on their importance to the meaning of the story. For example, words may be partially obscured or bleeped. Do not use profanity in opinion articles, such as editorials, columns and letters to the editor. 12. Staffers should avoid sexist labels and sexist descriptive language. Replace such language with neutral terms and descriptions. 13. Identification of a person as a member of any population group should be limited to those cases when that membership is essential for the readerʼs complete understanding of the story; it should be done with great care so as not to perpetuate negative or positive group stereotyping. When identifiers are used, it is important that the correct one be used. Some examples of identifiers: Hispanic, Jew, lesbian, Italian, person with AIDS (PWA), a person with a disability, hearing impaired. 14. Maintain a commendable work ethic—pursuing excellence, taking initiative, keeping to task, meeting deadlines and taking care of the workplace and equipment. Inspire fellow staff members to do the same. 15. Cultivate respect for your adviser, fellow staffers, school officials and others. Nurture an effective working relationship within the staff. Keep emotions in check. Support team effort in gathering and reporting news. Be loyal in protecting the best interests of your news medium. 16. Know when to show restraint in pursuing stories. For example, a spontaneous demonstration in the cafeteria by three students protesting the in-school suspension of a friend may receive notoriety, but its news value likely is insignificant. Furthermore, coverage of the incident may embolden others to disrupt the cafeteria too.

17. Exemplify effective leadership through the power of performance rather than the power of position. Express genuine interest in every staff member. Be sensitive to other points of view. Inspire teamwork and intrinsic motivation. Prioritize mentoring over clout. 18. Through all steps in the reporting process, from conceptualizing the story assignment, through information gathering and pre-writing, to writing, editing and final publication, a reporter must answer these questions: a. b. c. d. e.

Why am I reporting the story? Is the story fair? Have I attempted to report all angles? Who will the story affect? Can I defend my decision to report the story?

2. BE FAIR. 1. Begin the search for truth with a neutral mind. Do not prejudge issues or events; wait until the facts and perspectives have been gathered and weighed. Discover truth without letting personal biases get in the way. Teach people to live by truth by presenting information objectively in a context that reveals relevance and significance. Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story. 2. Explore controversial issues dispassionately and impartially. Don’t go into a story with a personal agenda. 3. Justify coverage decisions by showing newsworthiness of a story. Do not use your position with the paper to inflate your ego, favor friends, or advance other personal agendas that are self serving. If you profile an “athlete of the week,” be ready to show the criteria and objective process for selection. If you are a yearbook staffer, avoid a conflict of interest by working on spreads where you are not tempted to choose photos of yourself or of your friends for publication. 4. Pursue a panoramic vision of issues and events to achieve balance and fairness. You may not know what the story really is until the story unfolds as you research it and talk with sources. 5. Welcome diverse perspectives and particularly rebuttals to editorial positions. Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant. 6. Seek out sources whose voices we seldom hear. 7. Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting. 8. Refrain from “getting in the last word” by attaching an editor’s note to a letter to the editor. In rare circumstances, a clarification note may be justified. 9. Take initiative to give subjects of allegations an opportunity to respond in a timely manner. Make a serious effort to contact those subjects before going with a story in order to allow a response. 10. Label or otherwise clearly identify editorials, opinion columns and personal or institutional perspectives,

advocacy or commentary. 11. Disclose any potential conflict of interest by a journalist or news medium. For example, conflicts of interests could involve personal relationships with news subjects or sources, associations with organizations, gifts and “perks” and vested interests in issues or events. 12. Appreciate the fact that at any given time a reporter sees only a part of what can be seen. Don’t jump to conclusions. 13. Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story. 14. If the subject of a story does not respond to a reporterʼs inquiry, the reporter may use the failure to respond in the story. However, use the verb “refused” to respond cautiously because of its connotation. It is better to use “declined to comment” or “would not respond.” If the subject cannot be reached, it is acceptable to say that the subject was not available for comment. The difference between not responding and not available for comment should be clear to the reader. 3. BE HONEST. 1. Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is defined as the word-forword duplication of another person’s writing or close summarization of the work of another source without giving the source credit. A comparable prohibition applies to the use of graphics. Information obtained from a published work must be independently verified before it can be reported as a new, original story. This policy also forbids lifting verbatim paragraphs from a wire service without attribution or pointing out that wire stories were used in compiling the story. Material that is published on the Internet should be treated in the same way as if it were published in more traditional broadcast media. Because plagiarism can significantly undermine the public trust of journalists and journalism, editors should be prepared to consider severe penalties for documented cases of plagiarism, including suspension or dismissal from the staff. Plagiarism is not only unethical, it is illegal if the material is copyright protected. a. Book, Song or Movie Titles are not copyright protected because they are by their nature not original. b. Cartoon characters are usually copyright protected and cannot be used--even if recreated by a staffer-without permission of the copyright holder. c. Currency may be reproduced as long as it lacks reproductive detail (use different sizes and colors). d. Games are copyright protected and may not be reproduced without permission of the copyright holder. e. Photographs of famous people are often copyright protected and may not be used without the permission of the copyright holder. f. Poetry lines may be used as long as the selection quoted does not constitute a substantial portion of the work and the work is credited. When quoting poetry, format the lines with the same alignment as the original, if possible. g. Song Lyrics are copyright protected; however, a

staffer may quote up to four lines as long as the author receives credit. h. Stamps may be reproduced as long as they are not intended for use as counterfeits, or as long as they do not contain original artwork, i.e., a portrait of Elvis. When using stamps, reproduce them in larger or smaller sizes for publication. 2. Do not fabricate any aspect journalism work without full disclosure. The use of composite characters or imaginary situations or characters will not be allowed in news or feature stories. A columnist may, occasionally, use such an approach in developing a piece, but it must be clear to the reader that the person or situation is fictional and that the column is commentary and not reporting. The growth of narrative story development (storytelling devices) means that reporters and editors should be especially careful to not mix fact and fiction, and not embellish fact with fictional details, regardless of their significance.

9. Set-ups or posed scenes may be used if the average reader will not be misled or if the caption or credit line tells readers that it is a photo illustration or a reenactment or re-staging of an event, including award presentations. Recording the original action is always preferred.

3. Identify yourself as a reporter and do not misrepresent yourself while engaged in news media tasks. For example, a source deserves to know if he is engaged in casual conversation with a student or more guarded conversation with a reporter. For another example, don’t misrepresent yourself by pretending to conduct an official survey for the school when in fact you are conducting it for the student newspaper.

4. BE ACCURATE.

4. Do not tolerate dishonesty of any staff member. One dishonest act of an individual can profoundly damage the reputation of a whole news organization. Be completely honest in reporting. Remember, half-truths can be just as egregious as outright lies. 5. Stand by promises, including protecting the identity of confidential sources. Consider sources’ motives before promising anonymity. Verify information given by an anonymous source. Be cautious in making promises; consult editors; take time to consider ramifications of promises; don’t be pressured. 6. Be guarded about the credibility of sources, and confirm questionable assertions. Do not be misled by insincere or unreliable sources. Try not to make reader guess whether a source is sincere. For example, an untruthful or embellished Q&A response can taint belief in the sincerity of other contributors as well. 7. Be cautious of using satire. Because it involves irony and sarcasm, it is often misunderstood. Because it usually involves ridicule, it could be carried to an inappropriate level in a school setting. Because special April Fool’s Day editions can damage a paper’s integrity and credibility, and because they can pose a libel risk, they are strongly discouraged. 8. Do not electronically alter the content of news and feature photos in any way that affects the truthfulness of the subject and context of the subject or scene. Technical enhancements, such as contrast and exposure adjustments, are allowed so long as they do not create a false impression. Photo content may be altered for creative purposes as a special effect for a feature story if the caption or credit line includes that fact and if an average reader would not mistake the photo for reality. Strive to record original action in photos.

10. If using a recording device, get interviewee’s permission or make it obvious with the placement of the device that you intend to record. Know state laws regarding the legality of secretly recording private conversation. 11. Do not be cavalier about truth. Truth breeds trust — an essential component of free and responsible media. 12. Know “journalistic truth” must be accurate, should promote understanding and should be fair and balanced. 13. Provide access to source material when it is relevant and appropriate. 1. Verify information before releasing it. Use original sources whenever possible. 2. Remember that accuracy is often more than just a question of getting the facts right. Neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy. Accuracy also requires putting the facts together in a context that is relevant and reveals the truth. 3. Be a first-hand witness whenever you can. Gather raw facts. News releases, press conferences, official statements and the like are no substitute for firsthand accounts and original investigation. 4. Review story to make sure information is presented completely and in proper context that will not mislead the news consumer, including visual information. Clearly label illustrations and re-enactments. 5. Know your subject’s history to help measure his credibility as a source. If the subject has a reputation for embellishing information, make sure to verify information with another source. 6. Be willing to read back quotes to check for accuracy. Sometimes a source may not be saying what he really means. 7. Record accurate minutes of student media staff meetings that involve policy decisions and other actions that will have a lasting effect. 8. Verify questionnaires answered by sources. Make sure no one posed as another person. Check comments for sincerity and accuracy. 9. Tell not only what you know but also what you do not know. Invite a source or news consumer to fill you in on something he knows but you don’t. 10. Engage in fact-checking every story. Train copyreaders to spot red flags and to verify questionable information. 11. Be cautious about information received online. Not all sources are consistently credible, including sites such as Wikipedia, YouTube, blogs, and Facebook. Verify questionable information by consulting other sources.

Freedom of the press, or, to be more precise, the benefit of freedom of the press, belongs to everyone – to the citizen as well as the publisher… The crux is not the publisher’s ‘freedom to print’; it is, rather, the citizen’s ‘right to know.’ — Arthur Hays Sulzberge

5. BE INDEPENDENT. 1. Recognize inherent differences between the professional news media and the student news media, and understand that the latter will always be subject to some oversight by school administrators. Show administrators how it is in their best interests and the school community’s best interests to recognize student independence, within the parameters of law, in controlling the content of their news medium. 2. Work to have your student news medium recognized as a public forum, which will provide greater independence in controlling editorial content. 3. Resist prior review as a practice of administrative oversight in favor of less intrusive and more effective oversight strategies. Prior review dilutes student responsibility and puts more responsibility in the hands of administrators. Should the journalism experience teach responsibility or obedience? 4. Hold no obligation to news sources and newsmakers. Journalists and news media should avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest. 5. Accept no gifts, favors or things of value that could compromise journalistic independence, journalistic ethics or objectivity in the reporting task at hand. For example, a reporter covering a Spanish Club buffet event should not put his or her notepad and camera down to partake in the event. Nothing of value (over $10) should be accepted. Any gift of value should be returned to the sender or donated to charity. 6. Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; do not pay for access to news. Identify content provided by outside sources, whether paid or not. 7. Declare any personal or unavoidable conflict of interest, perceived or certain, in covering stories or participating in editorial or policy decisions. 8. Learn state laws regarding freedom of information, open meetings and shield laws. News media serve an essential function as a watchdog of government, and student journalists should not be asked to engage in any activity that is the responsibility of outside agencies, such as law enforcement, school administration and government. Cooperation or involvement in the work of these agencies should be restricted to what is required by law. Legal agencies, such as the Student Press Law Center in Virginia, may be contacted for advice.

that blur the lines between the two. Prominently label sponsored content. 13. Guard against participating in any school organizations or activities that would significantly create a conflict of interest. Journalists particularly should avoid holding office in student government, or they should be prepared to recuse themselves in either journalism or government forums when decision-making could pose a conflict of interest. 14. Staffers may not cover a school or other organization they belong to, or participate in any editorial or business decisions regarding that organization. Staffers may provide story leads about the organizations to which they belong to other staffers. Staffers should report their memberships to their supervising editor. 15. Political involvement, holding off-campus public office and service in community organizations should be considered carefully to avoid compromising professional integrity and that of the publication. The notion of the journalist as an independent observer and fact-finder is important to preserve. A staffer involved in specific political action, especially in a leadership role, should not be assigned to cover that involvement. 16. Do not use a byline for editorials that represent the opinions of the news medium. 17. Employment should not conflict with the stafferʼs first responsibilities to the publication. The staffer must report any employment to the editor to avoid any conflicts of interest with assignments or other staff editorial or business responsibilities or influence. 18. Approval of work for an off-campus news medium and free lance media work should be sought in advance of the commitment. It is permissible only in a noncompetitive medium, on a stafferʼs own time and should not conflict with the stafferʼs obligations to the publication. 6. MINIMIZE HARM. 1. Look beyond the likely impacts of each story, keeping alert to identify and respond to any unintended or undesirable consequences the story may hold in the shadows. Identify options for dealing with undesirable consequences. Determine if full disclosure of information may jeopardize student welfare unnecessarily; if so, decide what can be held back without jeopardizing the public’s right to know.

9. Avoid working for competing news media or for people, groups or organizations that the journalist covers.

2. Report immediately to school authorities any person who threatens the safety of himself or others.

10. Show courage and perseverance in holding school officials and other decision-makers accountable when student control of student news media is threatened. Remember, students who produce non-public forum news media still have some rights regarding content decisions. Give voice to the voiceless.

3. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity, even if others do.

11. Give no favored news treatment to advertisers or special interest groups. 12. Distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids

4. Choose an option less offensive than self-censorship when it is prudent to do so. For example, the son of a secretary accused of embezzling from the student activity fund may be in distress when learning the student paper will cover the story. Tapping the school counselor rather than engaging in self-censorship is a better remedy to help the son deal with his fear of humiliation.

34 Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy. — Walter Cronkite

5. Do not put student reporters in legal jeopardy or physical danger. Undercover stories may be unethical and may pose significant risks. Student journalists must obey the law. For example, a minor student who illegally purchases liquor to show readers/ listeners which stores violate the law also incriminates himself. Covering gang issues and other volatile topics require close faculty supervision and safeguards to protect student welfare. 6. Be especially sensitive to the maturity and vulnerability of young people when gathering and reporting information. Take particular care to protect young sources from their own poor judgment when their comments can put themselves and others in jeopardy. 7. Do not allow sources to use a news medium in malicious ways or ways that serve self-interest above the best interests of news consumers. Be on constant guard to spot clandestine efforts publish inappropriate messages. 8. Show respect and compassion for students who may be affected detrimentally by news coverage. Use heightened sensitivity when dealing with juveniles, victims of sex crimes, and sources or subjects who are inexperienced or unable to give consent. Consider cultural differences in approach and treatment. 9. Be sensitive when covering stories involving people in distress, and reject unreasonable intrusion by student media in their lives. 10. Balance the public’s right to be informed with an individual’s right to be let alone. 11. Understand and respect the different privacy expectations for private citizens, public figures and public officials when covering issues and events. 12. Be cautious about identifying students accused of criminal acts or disciplinary infractions. Avoid naming minors. (Check local jurisdiction for legal definition of a minor.) If a student is legally an adult, be ready to show a compelling reason for identifying the name. Relevancy and news value can constitute a compelling reason. For example, if an 18-year-old student were suspended from school for attending the homecoming dance drunk, the name likely would not be used in a news story. However, if the student is the homecoming king, the news element of prominence may justify using the name. The names of some crime victims, especially victims of sex crimes, should be protected from disclosure when prudent. Do not implicate by association. For example, do not say “a school secretary was arrested and charged with ….” The reader could suspect any school secretary. 13. Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know. Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges. This is especially true for students charged with a crime, which could negatively impact their future, especially if they are found not guilty. 14. Consider the long-term implications of the extended reach and permanence of publication. Provide updated and more complete information as appropriate.

Consider that high-school students are still learning and maturing, and that interviews and accusations will follow them into adulthood, far after many of their views and behaviors have changed. 15. The Panther Student Media staff may choose to print general crime news obtained from official law enforcement agencies and public records in accordance with state law. The staff will not print information that is obtained only from oral comments from law enforcement personnel. With the exception of major crimes, predetermined by the editor, an arrested person is not named until charges are filed. The staff will not print the names of rape victims, and will take special precautions to protect the identity of other victims of crime (identify them by grade level only, if necessary). 16. Educational records protected under FERPA, such as transcripts and disciplinary reports, are not public record and may not be published without consent of the individual student and, perhaps, a parent or guardian if the student is under the age of 18. Panther Student Media staff will avoid publishing a studentʼs grade point average unless it is germane to the story and the individual has given consent. 17. The names of students who use special education services are confidential and will not be published without consent of the student and a parent or guardian. 18. Student journalists are permitted to take photos of public areas (hallways, lunch room or the street). Before taking a picture of a classroom, one must ask permission from the teacher. Photographers should not take pictures of special education classrooms because the identities of these students are confidential. One should also ask permission before photographing productions in the auditorium, such as school plays, because the use of flash may distract performers. (Ask to photograph the dress rehearsal instead.) Restrooms, locker rooms, closed meetings and private homes are not public areas and should not be photographed. 7. BE ACCOUNTABLE. 1. Abide by the same high standards they expect of others. 2. Admit mistakes and publicize prompt corrections. Respond quickly to questions about accuracy, clarity and fairness. Explain corrections and clarifications carefully and clearly. 3. Expose unethical practices of student journalists and student news media, and make remedies. 4. Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources. 5. Use press passes for admission or special privileges, such as free tickets or entry, or special access, only in the capacity of a working journalist. In no event should use of such complimentary tickets or material influence the final articles appearing in any publication. 6. Provide news media consumers with opportunities to evaluate student news media.

7. Be friendly and sincere in welcoming criticism and weighing grievances from news consumers. 8. Have dialogue with student media overseers, and be prepared to justify decisions, policies and actions. 9. Keep notes and recordings of interviews for an indefinite time as evidence of responsible reporting. 10. Hold school administrators and other student media overseers accountable for their actions and decisions just as they hold student journalists and student media accountable for their actions and decisions. 11. Use the power of student media judiciously, and be prepared to provide rationale for any decisions or actions taken by news staffs. 12. Use anonymous sources only if there is a compelling reason and only if the information given can be verified through another, known source. When sources are not given, people may question the credibility not only of the source but also of the news medium. 13. Any materials given to the publication for review become the property of the publication and not of any individual staff member. The editor reserves the right to disperse the property in an equitable way. 14. Reporters who use the Internet and e-mail to interview sources should identify themselves as a reporter immediately, and should verify the sourceĘźs identity with a follow-up telephone call. The source should be told that the information given is for a story. Information from Internet chat rooms and bulletin boards should not be used except as background. Since some information on the Internet may not be accurate, verification of facts through another source is especially important. 15. Editors and reporters should invite reader feedback and participation in the publication. Reaction by readers to what has been published should be invited through all methods of communication: paper, e-mail, phone, fax and in-person visits. The publication should hold periodic open forums or open houses for readers. Reader opinions and suggestions on a range of issues can be solicited at these forums and can form the basis for future reporting or commentary.

Staff Communication All staff members are required to be a part of the Band website where Panther Student Media will be able to contact one another, as well as the adviser. The adviser is not allowed to contact students individually through social media or personal phone numbers or text messages without parental involvement per school district rules. Band is the only way the adviser will be able to communicate with you directly outside of school hours. It’s important to regularly check this location for updates as this is where the adviser will post staffwide messages, conduct polls, and get feedback from staff on important issues. This means you must also have notifications on. If you do not have a smartphone, you must check the Band.us website once a day to check for updates or other important communications. If you don’t have access to that technology, please talk with the adviser and they will assist you in getting access. Editors and the adviser will be the only ones with access to post to the Band’s wall, but everyone can make chatrooms to talk with another staffer, or with a group. It is wise to make use of these if you are working across class periods. To get access, talk with the adviser or an editor to get an invite code. It is free and available on all app stores. Important! You must sign the two-way communication form as well as your parents. This allows me to communicate with you directly on the Band app AND for you to be able to communicate back. The district allows this so long as parents sign a waiver saying so. Band does archive all messages and parents are able to join the Band as an observer if they would like. If your parent has questions about the app, please have them email the adviser directly.

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. — John F. Kennedy

Social Media for Journalists Best Practices

TWITTER

Keep tweets concise. Use visuals as much as possible including images, videos or GIFs. Use relevant hashtags and account tags. Use to crowdsource information or ask questions to readers. Quotes should be extra interesting. Interact with readers by answering questions, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get into arguments. Retweet posts about the event (that are appropriate and not unprofessional.)

Best Practices

FACEBOOK

Keep posts concise, between 40-80 characters. Post with a wide audience, like parents and community members, in mind. Limit posts at events to between 1-3. Post regularly at peak times; at least twice a day, particularly in the afternoon. Use Facebook Live on occassion at events people may be interested in seeing live. Ask questions; keep them between 100-120 characters to be engaging. Include links & images/videos on every post for a higher engagement.

Best Practices

INSTAGRAM

Post a few, high-visual-impact images that show different story elements. Crop & edit before posting; no filters. Post to Instagram story while at events. Post with audience wants in mind like contests and user-generated content. Post at peak times; usually midday and midweek for highest engagement. Include quotes and relevant hashtags in story captions. Engage with viewers within reason. 38

Leadership is one part influence and two parts responsibility. As people of influence, we must always take responsibility for our contribution to problems that arise around us. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Todd G. Gonger

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Staff Requirements & Grades

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